Alright, so I installed a new external modem yesterday and got it working and all through KPPP, so I was able to use Opera and GAIM and whatnot. I was happy that I finally got everything working when BOOM! suddenly I have these problems.
*Root cannot login through any tty consoles.
*Root's password is correct, I can su to root
*normal user "roric" (my main account) suddenly cannot clear screen by using the command or by pushing ctrl+l (majorly annoying). Also has no bash colors, although su root can do both.
*Roric cannot log into X. I use KDM and enlightenment (though KDE does not work, either). I try to login as roric, I enter password and X restarts and brings me back to KDM.
*Root can login to X. I start up xterm or eterm and su to roric, roric through the eterm has bash colors and can clear.

Have checked /etc/securetty and root is allowed on all the consoles.
I use gentoo 1.4 and am a relative newbie (8 months), so I may have overlooked something.
More info? Ideas, anybody? Please help!