Hi, Forum; I've been using debian only 6-8 months. Here's my 2-month prob: Startx won't start; none of my desktops or GUI's will start. No probs booting, just startx won't start. I've read every log I can find, configured and reconfigured my gdm, kdm, xdm, sawfish, lilo, and XF86Config-4 time and again. I've googled and read forum after forum and tried umpteen suggestions I've read on forums -- all to no avail. I now am totally exasperated as to what to do next. I've been at this so long now that I don't remember what happened when this first started. I am unable to post a lilo or XF86Config-4 as I cannot print. I have to use vi or nano to edit anything.

The only error I find with dmesg is "apm failed to open" the other logs show no error msgs, either.

Where am I going wrong? What am I missing?

I run woody on a PII MMX, 320MB RAM, 15GB HD.

All your help is greatly appreciated. TIA

I find it hard to believe that your XFree86.0.log contains no relavent information as to why X isnt starting bro, unless you simply DO NOT HAVE Xserver installed. try this.

locate / XFree86.0.log |grep XFree86.0.log

then cat /var/log/XFree86.0.log

and show us the output.
you can copy the log file to a floppy and post it using another os, or if you are using LynX just cut and paste to the post.
anyways, post this file.

Hi, Autopsy, and thanks so much for your quick answer.

I, too, find it hard to believe. This is why I have no clue as to where to look for the solution. I do have the /var/log/XFree86.0.log, along with dmesg, messages, etc. I'll do all I can with LynX but so far all I've been able to get is vi and nano.

Thank you, and I'll be posting back with results or let you know something. TIA

p.s. I have checked to see if xserver is installed ;-) -- it is.

Post the logfile, I almost guarantee we can figure something out.