I'm using the latest kernel with Fedora 6 and after adding a few software packages from the Fedora equivalent of add/remove programs, I got an error about debugging. The system locked up, I restarted it and now during the bootup instead of the usual list of process starting i get only 2, then the bootup seems to proceed as usual (with the new Fedora start up window) but the login screen is different and if I log in, I get a black screen with a small window titled "xsm Default" with button choices for Client List, Session Log, Shutdown, and Checkpoint. Aside from that, there is a terminal window. I have no idea what to do here.

My goal is save a few things in a couple of my home directories. If i could get Samba to connect with Vista, I could care less about even reinstalling to fix this, but now I can't get it to run on my Linux box and Vista never let me log into it.

I've tried restarting and choosing a different kernel, but that makes no difference.

Someone please help.

fedora has sevral systems for addng and removing programs - state exactly what you did.... state the error. When you get an error, make a record of it for the future.This is what is supposed to happen - you shouldn't be able to see the processes starting at all - just a progress bar (if memory serves me right). However, there is an option on that screen for an expanded view.In what way "different"?XSM = X Session Manager - this is the "failsafe mode". It means that something has gone badly wrong - like the session configuration files getting corrupted. What where you installing?

You could try "shutdown".
When you reboot, and get the login screen, there is usually a menue for selecting your windows session ... make sure the next session will be gnome or kde. Then login as normal. Hopefully you'll get a more familiar session that time.
It will probably end up being faster to use a live CD like knoppix or ubuntu.Sorry - can't make head or tails of this... you want samba to connect with Vista? (Vista is broken - wait awhile before using)... you don't mind reinstalling (FC6?) to fix "this" (presumably the funny login stuff from before - but you could be referring to the samba-vista thing)? But "how can I run (samba, vista) on my linux box and vista never let me log into it (samba, vista, linux box, xsm session ... normally context would let me pick one)?It wouldn't, all the kernels have to use the same setup scripts.

You may well have to reinstall for this. Not that it is unfixable from here, it's just hard to do over a forum.

To be honest, I don't remember everything that I was installing. The list was quite lengthy.

I'm sorry, I know the information I offered wasn't very helpful and I think I know just enough about Linux to be dangerous (to myself).

I found a picture of the GUI I used to add the programs from: http://www.sitening.com/blog/wp-cont...ge-manager.png

I doubt that it makes much difference, but I was using the "list" view.

From your post, I can tell you that this (unfortunately) sounds like exactly what is happening:
XSM = X Session Manager - this is the "failsafe mode". It means that something has gone badly wrong - like the session configuration files getting corrupted.

I did as you suggested by typing "shutdown" but I am told that the command is not found. Nor does restart, exit, or reboot work. "Quit" does, for all the good that it does me.

I believe you are quite right, the session manager seems to be the problem. Maybe not the only problem, but I definitely do not get the option to choose my session anymore. Is there any way to repair that?

Regarding the Samba/Vista issue: I'd read that the problem could be resolved by adjusting a network security option in Vista to allow for a different security session. This very post from MSDN forums sounded just like the problem I'd had: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/Sho...60925&SiteID=1

Of course, now I can't seem to get Samba to run.

I'm sorry, I know I'm not giving you much to work with here, but it's what I've got and where I'm at. I'm going to ask simply for the sake of asking, but how might I go about repairing the session manager? I'd like to trying fixing that and at least getting back on more familiar ground from there.

Thank you very much for your help even this far.

I don't know how much this helps, but I opened the desktop config file using vi and it read:
auditd irda pgsql
authconfig irqbalance prelink

DESKTOP="GNOME"
*
*
*
*
*
*
"desktop" 1L, 16C

But I don't know what is supposed to be there either way.

I FIXED IT. well, at least to the extent that I cared to. I uninstalled and re-installed Samba and had to reconfigure it. Once that was done, I got it running and because of that tiny little setting in Vista I got them both talking again. Yay me.

I do thank you very much for your help and all the help I've ever received from this forum.