On Ubuntu, after logging in as a regular user, there is only the command line.

After I type in:

startx

I get this error message:

This is a pre-release version of XFree86, and is not supported in any
way. Bugs may be reported to XFree86@XFree86.Org and patches submitted
to fixes@XFree86.Org. Before reporting bugs in pre-release versions,
please check the latest version in the XFree86 CVS repository
(http://www.XFree86.Org/cvs).

XFree86 Version 4.3.0.1 (Ubuntu 4.3.0.dfsg.1-6ubuntu25.2 20050316093755 root@)
Release Date: 15 August 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.6
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.8.1 i686 [ELF]
Build Date: 16 March 2005
Before reporting problems, check http://www.XFree86.Org/
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.6.8.1-3-386 (buildd@terranova) (gcc version 3.3.4 (Debian 1:3.3.4-9ubuntu5)) #1 Tue Oct 12 12:41:57 BST 2004
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Sat Apr 2 18:46:18 2005
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4"

Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_clip.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_norm.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_xform.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_vertex.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libspeedo.a:spencode.o": No symbols found
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pmf" already registered at priority 0

However, as a superuser, Gnome loads nicely.
Please tell me how to make it work with a regular user

Maybe if you post your X config file that my help with the problem solving....

-onelung

Just startx as root. On Ubuntu the default is that when Gnome starts it logs in a user automatically and won't let root log in through Gnome, you have to use sudo.

Thanks for your answers, guys (faster than expected).

I'm not at my computer now, and I'll look at the configuration file when I get to boot it again.

The problem may have started when I installed Ubuntu. Initially, it had not installed any GUI (maybe a decision based on space- 1.9 G main and 0.6 swap, and 300 M RAM-). However, I did

apt-get install gnome

, and switched the default runlevel from 3 (which the install chose) to 5. From that moment, at boot I would find myself on the command line at runlevel 5. Then, by doing

sudo startx

I got into Gnome. But when I started a console, my pwd was /root, and after typing in

uname

I got "root" as a response.

What if I delete my regular user account and make a new one? Is that possible or sensible?

I'll post my configuration file, and thanks again.