XWindows won't start !!
 

I'm using Redhat Linux 7.3 with Gnome

After messing with partition magic I manages to rescue back my Linux partition ( see my previous post - 'grub in text mode' under the general forum

However now I can't start XWindows. I'm now in text mode.
After I login, when I type 'startx', this is the error I encountered :

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Using config file "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4"

Could not init font path unix/:7100

Fatal Server error could not open default font 'fixed'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I typed 'xfs &' followed by 'startx' then I CAN login to to gnome desktop !! However this only works for root

When I tried to login as other user, I found that my gnome desktop basically is corrupted or not working !

Pls help as I've considered wiping out all my data and reinstalling linux again :(

I can't help with the problem, but I can suggest an easy workaround.

Copy all your data to another partition (e.g. a Windows partition if you have one, or create a new data partition). Then you can reinstall the OS as many times as you want without touching your data.

If you do reinstall, make sure that you have at least an OS partition (1-2GB probably) and a data partition (the rest).

Iain.

Yeppers, I have always had /home on it's own partition. It makes a re-install much more painless.

a much easier workaround would be # in front of the init font path unix/:7100

i.e.

# init font path unix/:7100

It should be possible to start X after that - I know it's a dirty solution and the best thing would be to reinstall the TrueType font server

Thanks the omission tips

I have tried it but a lot of Apps won't be able to run (eg AbiWord complained abt XFR86 then quitted )

Anyway I did a search on the rpm of my system which is :

XFree86-4.2.0-8
XFree86-ISO8859-15-75dpi-fonts-4.2.0-8
XFree86-libs-4.2.0-8
XFree86-xfs-4.2.0-8
XFree86-100dpi-fonts-4.2.0-8
XFree86-base-fonts-4.2.0-8
XFree86-ISO8859-15-100dpi-fonts-4.2.0-8
XFree86-tools-4.2.0-8
XFree86-xdm-4.2.0-8
XFree86-compat-modules-3.3.6-44
XFree86-font-utils-4.2.0-8
XFree86-75dpi-fonts-4.2.0-8
XFree86-twm-4.2.0-8
XFree86-devel-4.2.0-8
XFree86-SVGA-3.3.6-44

If I were to reinstall the Xwindows Server which RPM do I need to select ?

BTW, I have tried to use rpm -Uvh to install but the system complained that packages has been installed. Is there anyway to 'force' the installation or do I need to uninstall 1st ?

Thanks a lot

Here is a list of common tools for configuring X:
Redhat 7.3 down - the setup utility leads to several config tools
Redhat 7.3 up - redhat-config-xfree86

You might have one or more of these tools/files on your system:
XF86SetupTricks and hints
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf

The redhat-config-xfree86 might just be what you need to run in order to get things back to normal...

The RPM's you mentioned - Can't say which

As for the # and files that won't work - yes I understand the fix can be dirty :-)

BTW - I dropped starting in X and set my runlevel to 3 instead of the graphical boot. I have noticed the graphical boot is able to mess up the fonts something terrible - think it has to do with harddisk space because I've run into the font error as a result of too much junk on the drive... Leave plenty of free space on your drive (if you can)!