when i turn my laptop it goes through the start up process then instead of my desktop apearing the kernal loads.
how do i go back to the original mode.

The kernel needs to load in order for the system to work. Do you mean that the computer boots up to the command line instead of your desktop (GUI)?

yes that is correct how can i change back

Login with your user name and password. type "startx" and tell us what happens.

a bunch of error codes show
no such file or directory
it is suse 10

What errors? Can you post the exact error message?
Can you log in as root?

xauth: error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file: no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory
/usr/x11r6/bin/xauth:- error while loading shared libraries: libxau.so.6: cannot open shared object file:no such file or directory

yes i can log on as root

If you are in the command line start yast as root and than yast>hardware>graphic card and monitor .
If will probe you're graphic card and monitor again.
If the setting are correct safe .
Afterwards use the command startx
If it do not works tell use the chip set of you're graphic card and the type of you're monitor

if i type in yast>hardware>graphic card and monitor on the command line it just says there is no such thing?
how else can i do it

What I mean start up yast as root .
So login as root in the failsafe mode and type yast enter
When yast is running option hardware and than option graphic card and monitor
Than it will probe you're graphic card and monitor.
If it is correct save it
Leave yast
And than type startx enter
If the xserver is running logout again
Give the command shutdown now
Restart the computer

every now and again it freezes on the splash screen why?
when i type yast it says
warning: the qt frontend is installed but does not work
warning: the ncurses frontend is installed but does not work
you need to install yast2-ncurses to use the YaST text mode interface

i have contacted hp and they say that they are sending out a new install would this solve the problem...

anyway i dont want to reinstall cos i dont know how and the netbook has no cd/dvd drive, (hp 2133 mini-note)

It sounds like a bad installation. Whether the media was bad or some other glitch, a re-install is necessary. I would be tempted to run diagnostics on the hard drive and the memory to be sure the problem is not due to hardware.

thanks alot
do you know where i can et the installaion disk from e.g iso download
and how do you do the diagnostics on the hard drive and the memory
thanks

If you have access to a working machine, then download The Ultimate Boot Disk. This cd contains several useful hardware diagnostic tools that are easy to use. I recommend testing the hard drive and the RAM. Look at the site for an idea of how to use the disk. You can download openSUSE from the openSUSE site.

If you have a network, we can install from another computer. It is possible to install from an image on the drive, but the image still needs to be copied to the laptop. If you do not have a cd/dvd, perhaps a friend has an external usb drive. Also, the hp might have a diagnostic partition installed with tools. Look for an "F" key to hit at the beginning of the boot process.

I noticed that the notebook has a SD Reader. You may have to buy a 1G card and install the cd iso to the card using another computer. You should be able to change the boot order in the bios to use the card.

I realize that none of this is exactly "beginner's" stuff. If it is not out of warranty, perhaps hp will reinstall? I hope I could help.

To summarize:
input via usb or SD card
input via network
Get hp to do it!

on the disk which programs should i use
hp is sending me a suse disk in 8-10 days
thanks for the help and suport so far