Hello all:

I'm a newbie, and have been working with Redhat Linux Ver. 9. I have lately been experimenting with Samba to try to get my windows machines to read files on the linux box. That is not my problem though (just wanted to give background as to what was happening before problem started). Anyways, I am trying to boot into Linux on my computer (dual-boot system has both Win XP and Linux Redhat 9) and all of a sudden the login screen is not showing up at all. The monitor just goes blank and does not show the login screen. I can see all the startup information when I first turn the computer on and it goes through all the proper sequences as far as I can tell, but for some reason the login screen (where I enter user name and password) is not appearing. As I said before the screen is dark and yes the monitor is on. Any help or ideas that anyone has about this one would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Randy

Try CTRL+ALT+F1. That should bring you into console mode. And there should be a field for username and password. If that doesn't happen, then you are screwed If that happens, something can be saved.

OK, I tried pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 but nothing happens. I've tried it at the start of boot-up and at the final point where the version # is displayed and there is a prompt saying "localhost login:", and still nothing happens. What can be saved if I really am screwed and how can it be saved? And are there any others out there who might have come across a similar problem?Again, thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer
Randy

localhost login:

this is your console-based login
try this:

at localhost login: type root
it should come up asking for your password (note: the password will not be echoed)
you should then get a prompt like this:

[root@localhost]#
type startx
this should load up X
if it doesnt, it should spit out errors
paster those here

Hi Scuzzman:
Thanks for the info. When I log in at the localhost login prompt and type startx here are the errors I get:

Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.4.28-18.9(bhcompile@porky.devel.redhat.com) (gcc version 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5)) #1 Thu May 29 07:08:16 EDT 2003
Markers: (--) proved, (**) 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: Mon May 31 16:28:07 2004
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config"

Could not init font path element unix/:7100, removing from list!

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'


I also looked in the log file /var/log/XFree86.0.log and there is a ton of information in there but I can't cut and paste it because it is on a different machine (I have a home network of 3 machines). But the last few lines in that file were a repeat of the error message I copied above. So, if anyone can provide any insight as to the meaning of this error message and how I can go about fixing it I would really appreciate it. On the face of it, it seems that I am having a problem with my XServer and that it can't load a font that is needed. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Randy

I had this problem, when I messed up my permissons of whole hard disk I couldn't get rid of it. Maybe someone can help you

I have a similar problem when I log in from a shutdown situation my Xserver is blank too and the monitor goes into standby mode until I control + alt Fx toanother console where I can log in as normal. The only way to get it to work again is to boot into my Windows (dual boot with 98) and then the next time I log into Linux X works okay. Definately not a fix but may be worth a try if you can dual boot.


Cheers Al