Hi, I had a problem because I could not startx gtk based applications from a shell when I was in x as a single user. The only permanent solution to my problem seemed to make a symbolic link between the .Xauthority in my root folder and the one in the home directory of the user in X. When I restarted X, for some reason it blocks after I see the mouse cursor as an x (im using dropline-gnome). I deleted the .Xauthority file in the my home directory so it would create a new one, but I get the same result. I also tried deleting the .Xauthority file in /root, but same result. Dropline runs fine when I start it as root. I will try with kde but I doubt it would make a difference since the problem is probably in xfree files. The xfree86 log file seems fine to me, there is no errors. I also made a created a new user just to see if it would load but again, I get the same result.
JP

You shouldn't run X as singleuser. X is meant to be run at runlevel 5 (sometimes 4).

When running in runlevel 1 (singleuser), lots of services aren't started, and that can cause issues.

Only run as single user (and root) if there is something wrong that you need to fix. Its insecure otherwise.

I just fixed it! Actualy, there never was a problem... I ran export DISPLAY=:0 and xhost + local:localhost in order to be able to run x applications as root when I was in a normal session. Do know a permanent fix for that? Anyway I just rebooted and then I started X as a normal user just fine. What it the difference between single and normal user?(a bit knew to the jargon) I run it at runlevel 3, not 1. Sorry for the confusion. If I run X from runlevel 3 is it then considered as runlevel 4?
Thanks anyways
JP