I am a raw linux user who has managed to get Arch installed, my wireless card working, as well as the pacman package manager.

However, after installing the required packages for the x windows system, startx will not run, and it doesn't even leave me a log file at /var/log/Xorg.0.log (nor anywhere else as far as I can tell)

I have tried to command it to use a specific log file but to no avail. I have tried in vain to track down a forum post describing a similar problem but to no avail. If anyone knows what is happening, I would be very appreciative.

Many thanks for your help.

Hi and welcome to LQ.

Please be more descriptive, don't forget that we don't sit in front of your machine, so "startx will not run" is not an error description that gives us any hint what could be the culprit.

1. Which graphics hardware?
2. Which driver?
3. Have you installed a WM/DE?
4. What exactly happens when you launch startx?

Okay, I was hoping that if I could get startx to crank out a log file I would be on my way.

Anyway, here is some more info, my computer is an emachines 355 netbook.

The output of lspci|grep VGA is
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation N10 Family Integrated Graphics Controller

The relevant output of lsmod seems to be:
video 11228 1 i915

The output of startx is:
hostname: Unknown host
xauth: (argv):1: bad display name "/unix:0" in "list" command
xauth: (stdin):1: bad display name 2/unix:0" in "add" command

/usr/binX: /usr/lib/libz.so.1: version 'ZLIB_1.2.5.2' not found (required by /usr/lib/libfontenc.so.1)

xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
xinit: server error
xauth: (argv):1:bad display name "/unix:0" in "rename" command

Okay, I have transcribed this output with pen and paper and then typed it up here so it might look a little strange. I haven't installed a window manager, I just want to get x to start with it's default first. Like I said, there is no log file for me to work with.

If anyone can help, I would be much obliged.