this happens to all users except root. I don't know where to start. I have tried starting X from the CLI and using multiuser X.. same result. It locks up, and I cannot get into another terminal, or do a soft reboot... btw, I am using Slack 8.1 w/ kde 3.0.1 (compiling kde3.1 as soon as dialup allows) on box #2 (see my signature)

How did you create your user accounts?

KDE will attempt to create the config tree in the users home directory. I have seen in the past where there is a GUI program that allows for a user to be added without a default shell. I guess they consider the item as optional and leave the field blank. It could have problems elsewhere like the home directory. Anyway, I only use the script /usr/sbin/adduser to create users with. That should create a good user account. But you might want to check the /etc/passwd file for correct user info and verify the home directory with proper permissions so that KDE can create what it needs.

Perhaps it will help identify where the problem is.

I created the users with Kuser and set the default shell to bash.. This system has only been up for a few days, so I may just delete the users and create them again with /usr/bin/adduser.. /etc/passwd looks alright... what should the permissions for /home/username be?

EDIT:

Okay, I removed and added the users. kde deosnt freeze any more, but I no longer have any modules in my control center.. btw, as root, I have moved that menu into |system|