I have downloaded gnome for redhat 7 on my laptop. The problem is that the screen doesnt come up to be the normal gnome screen, it looks like it is text mode. It is black and is just like the text mode when you install linux. Is there any command or anything that I can tryper to make the actual gnome screen come up?

startx

you can edit /etc/inittab and switch the runlevel from 3 to 5 to get it to start on boot up.

id:5:initdefault:

You'll likely get a choice of what environment you want to start that way.

Also if gnome doesn't start when you type startx
make a .xinitrc file, in there put

exec /usr/bin/gnome-session

( I think thats right) it will tell it you want gnome.

I tried startx which seemed like it was going to work, and then the screen went to this dark blue screen and never reached gnome. I then tried loading gnome from the boot which has messed up my entire computer. After linux checks everything, it goes to the blue screen. I need major help.

at the LILO prompt type

linux 3

you'll be in runlevel 3 now.

once your back in change the /etc/inittab again back to 3. Least untill you get it working right, then put 5 in again if you prefer.

Try run Xconfigurator to make sure your X server (the GUI) settings are ok for your hardware. From the blue screen description it's hard to tell whether it was gnome that died, or X server itself. If it's gnome I'm not to sure about why or how to maybe fix that, I'm a KDE fan myself sorry. Perhaps some more experienced with gnome will have a soluition.