Hello: I decided to upgrade my core 6 64bit KDE to the new core 9 64bit.
The install went Ok although it did not recognise my boot loader so a new one was created. The DVD was checked to insure integrity. The system rebooted & the login screen appeared with my user name & all I had to do was enter my password which I did. The system screen went black as it normally does and instead of starting the new Operating system & looped back to the login screen. The password is correct I know. How do I fix this. Mike

You don't say if the server is up, although it appears to be. If it's prompting you for a user/password, and just going back to login from there, I'm assuming you're talking about X windows, and a Gnome/KDE/Whatever session.

Try to log in using the 'failsafe' session, under the SESSION menu. If you can get in that way, try to remove the $HOME/.kde or $HOME/.gnome directories, in your home directory. Log out, and log back in, and it might work. You'll have lost your default window settings/profiles/etc., but can rebuild those. I have renamed mine in the past, to something like old.kde, so at least I HAVE the settings.

The only option available is the login screen which has my username & another called "other", A password box & login button. There is a restart/shutdown buttons but they do nothing. I wish I could undo the upgrade but that doesn't seem to be an option.

Hmm...there's usually a "session" button down there, too.

If you can SSH into the box from another workstation, you can try to blow away that directory from there, and try to log in again at the console.

Remember now.....I'm a newbee. Everything you just said is Greek to me.

If there's a way to fix this through a command line, that might work but I'd have to be walked through it by phone.....if anyone wants to shoot me their # I'll call.

so you did an "upgrade " or
the recommended way by doing a fresh install
it also maybe that your 3d card ( if ati) is not supported by 9

It's an upgrade & my video is onboard. Never had problems with older versions of linux.

your chipset may not be supported yet on fedora9

My Chip set is a VIAK8M800-CE Chipset. I do think you may be on to something though. When I enter my password it does attempt to login but after a short time(5 to 10 sec.) it loops back to the login screen. Is there any way to do something at a command prompt and force a generic driver to load. Again, I'm a newbee so unless I get specific detailed inst. or am able to speak directly to someone I'll probably be dead in the water & be forced to go back to windows.........

If you can reboot the box, at the boot screen, hit a key. This will cancel the 'countdown'. Then at the end of the boot line, type in the word "single", and press enter.

You'll boot up into single-user mode. You'll be at a "#" prompt, no network connectivity. From there, go to your home directory, and blow away the .kde or .gnome directory (whichever is your default window manager). Then type in "reboot", and try to log in normally when it comes back up.

If it doesn't work, boot up into single-user mode, and at the "#" prompt, type in "redhat-config-xfree86", which will let you reconfigure your X windows setup. Try choosing the VESA driver. Before you do that, though, make a backup copy of /etc/X11/xorg.conf to something else. That file is your GUI config.

Your experience isn't extraordinary. I've had bad luck with 'upgrades' before. Sometimes multiple versions of files/libraries/whatever live out there, and cause all sorts of entertainment. IMHO, I always partition my disk to have /home (where all my data lives), separate from / (where just the OS lives). When OS upgrade time comes, I just format the / partition, and load everything fresh. /home gets mounted as-is, but that's just the way I do it. Your mileage may vary.

I don't know how to blow away these directories but I'll try the redhat thing....I don't know how to backup at the command line either so hopefully all goes well.

To remove a directory (look at the man page for rm)

rm -fR <directory name>

in your case, since you're having KDE/Gnome problems, go into your home directory and

rm -fR .kde

try CTRL-ALT-F1 from the graphic VC.
to go back use ALT-F7 (usually the graphic terminal, depend upon the distro). if not try other Fs keys such as F8.

If there's any other solutions not listed I'm all ears. I still cannot log in. I've tried everything but can't log in. Mike