Why only root can successfully run startx
 

Hi I have installed Mandrake 10.0 Official on my desktop/server. When I was using a Riva graphics card, everything was okay, except that the card has only 4MB video memory. I got me a GeForce4 MX 4000 64MB PCI card and things started to get weird. I could no longer run startx as an ordinary user. It would hang while the KDE splash is still shown on screen. I dont get this problem if i login as root and then run startx. Any ideas? Oh, btw, I already installed nvidia drivers but i somehow doubt it's the drivers.

Maybe it's a KDE problem - maybe trying to do something that needs root privelages? It's probably worth installing another Window manager (Gnome, Windowmaker or whatever). If none of those start either then you can probably eliminate KDE as the cause of the problem :)

I read in another post that, the latest drivers are often buggy. Try downloading the second latest ones.

You might want to scan the /var/log/XFree86.0.log
Also, look in the ~username/.xsession-errors log.
Delete any files in /tmp with your username.

You could try creating another user and see if you can startx as that user. If that user can, check if you can delete lock files in /var/lock/.

Another possibility is that the permissions or ownership of a file is incorrect.

thanks for your replies. i'll check your suggestions later when i have time. in the mean time, i'll just use the old graphics card to get some more pressing work done.
cheers! :)