I am a linux newbie and not used to logging in on a command screen and then entering startx to get in linux. But I got used to it. Then I was trying to install a new version of gaim one night the beta version. Well I selected one of the linux versions , I think redhat6 version but it told me it was unable to install for some reason or another. No problem I figure I would wait and ask a friend what version to get. So then I cannot find out how to shutdown my computer. After some searching through google, I find one. I click and open startx command screen and type in halt. My computer shuts down, I guess this is the correct way to shut down the computer. It used to be in logout but have not see it in there anymore not sure where it went. Anyway next day I go to turn on the computer and bring up linux I am in the command screen and login and it says have a great time or whatever. Then I type in startx to bring linux up I get this error and it does not load. /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"refcount is 2 should be 1; fixing And it never loads. I had to come in here under my windows partition to get some help. So remember I am a newbie and please tell me how to fix this. I will need detailed answers as I am real good with windows but a big newbie when it comes to linux. But I loved linux when I was using it and want to learn even more. And it will not load in previous kernel or in safe mode either it is doing the same things in there. If I have to reload linux please give details on how when I have a partition already with windows. Thanks and I hope there is some quick easy fix for this. And I do not know many commands at all so any good ones you want to help a newbie with is very nice of you.

open the file /etc/inittab with root priveleges and look out for lines similar to these:
all the lines except the last one are comments and tells u the various runlevels ur machine can use. the last line controls where ur machine boots up to. change it to the X11 one as given in your own inittab file.
also use the command "poweroff" without quotes to shutdown ur machine.

There is no Linux 10.1. Please, what is your distrobution? You mentioned RedHat.. is that it? It will be easier to help you if we know.

given the numbering scheme and the fact that its default run level is 3, i'd do the same as prozac and assume it is slackware 10.1

In that case. Please install Ubuntu or whatever other newbie friendly distro. Slackware is not newbie friendly and will cause headaches.

Incorrect, Haiyadragon, Slackware can be very Newbie friendly.

As long as the newbie is patient and knows how to read documentation.

I ran Slackware for quite a while, running Arch now. I just think it's way too much to start out with Slackware.

Hello hello hello, sorry to interrupt the discussion: TS does not need a discussion about the 'best' distro, but a solution for his problem.

@TS is the problem solved? Not quite clear if the solved the issue.

Thanks but remember I am a newbie. And the correct version is 10.1 and it s suse if that helps explain it. It was released last week I believe. And I am not sure how to open a file in the command window. Please advise me on how to do that. I am more of a windows user and am really wanting to learn this and can follow instructions. So anyone willing to help me on messenger let me know. I have yahoo messenger aol messenger and msn. Thanks for all the interest and hope there is more I can learn. SUSE 10.1 is the version I have. Love it so far just need to learn how to shut off the computer at times as I only see a login and logout now. Not sure if putting halt in startx screen was right but it shut off the computer. But do not know how to open a file I cannot get to. Unless I can modify it through windows. But that error I mention comes up and linux is not loading so pleast helpppppppppp I want my linux back.

Ok, what we need is a Suse guru (which I am not). I suspect that that error

usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"refcount is 2 should be 1; fixing

is not the real problem. What is happening is that "x", the software that makes the graphics for the screen (which is a server) is failing to start when you type in "startx". Do not change the /etc/inittab file described above until you have fixed this.

Here are some things to try while we wait for the guru to appear. Boot it up and log in as yourself (not as root). Then type "su" (all the commands I mention are what is inside the quotes: don't include the quotes). It will ask for your root password. Give it and hit enter.

Now you are root. I believe that Suse uses Yast to configure things like x and other hardware. Try typing "yast" or "yast2" and hit enter. It should come up with a configuration utility that will let you set up your video card, and monitor.

Try that, and if it seems to change anything exit yast and type "exit" to stop being root anymore, and try "startx". Tell us what happens.

While you are logged in, you might also try these commands to see which editors you have:

"nano" "pico"

You can try the following also, but to get out of it you have to hit the Escape key, then type ":q!":

"vi" "vim" "elvis"

Come back and tell us what you found. Good luck.

C

You could try rebooting with your Suse DVD/cd and when the install menu comes up, choose "other". It has been a while since I used Suse but there should be an option to "repair installed system". Run this, you should get lucky as it, amongst other things, will check that you have all the required base packages etc.

Good luck.

Ok I got in yast and went to graphics card a monitor and it auto set everything up again. And still same error when trying to startx. But I do know how to get in yast now. However I also tried the rescue option on the CD and they asked me for a recuse name and password. Those are something I do not know of. I have a linux user name and password and root password is all I have set up. So still in windows and still needing help.

The rescue option you chose will only take you to a console if you log in as root (without any password), but this won't be of much help to you.

Try booting from the CD again but choose "install" instead. It will recognize your existing installation and ask if it's supposed to repair that, see if this helps.

Nope still same error. I have used install cd and updated the install and I still am having that error. Any other ideas?

Sorry, no idea. Google returns this, but I couldn't find anything useful among the results.