Re: This has happended too many times before...

From: Bill Unruh (unruh_at_string.physics.ubc.ca)
Date: 02/07/05 

Date: 7 Feb 2005 00:32:20 GMT

>> On Sun, 06 Feb 2005 21:37:44 +0000, Alan wrote:
>>
>>> I'm running Suse 9.1 Pro and did an online update of packages through
>>> Yast. Shutdown the computer and upon booting later, the system does all
>>> it usual stuff and appears to book fine. However when at the point when
>>> it should startX and show the Login and password boxes, the screen just
>>> goes blank.
>>>
>>> Has anyone experienced this problem and if so willing to share their
>>> pearls of wisdom?
>>>
>>> Oh please don't tell me another re-install!

Nope not another reinstall. Instead some detective work.
Go to run level 3. Ie when the LILO menu comes up, hit esc or tab and type
in
linux 3
(or use whatever your default boot kernel is-- the one with the star beside
it.)
This will bring you up in a console login. Now do
login as user or as root.

type startx 2>/tmp/X
If it again does not come up finally hit alt-ctrl-backspace to get back
into the console.

Now look at /tmp/X and see if there are some hints at the end-- error
messages, etc.
There are a variety of possiblities: Wrong driver for your graphics card.
Some file which is not being loaded (eg permissions wrong). xfs not running
(ps -ax|grep xfs) etc.
>>
>> Updating ANYTHING with Suse is a crap shoot, with the emphasis on C_R_A_P.

Well, I have found updating with Mandrake very easy. And I suspect suse is
pretty good as well. Since we have no idea what your problems are we
cannot offer help on this issue.