Failed to start the X server

[zynder]

Ok i tried Fedora Core 6 Live CD on a DELL optiplex gx260 and it says "Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface)" It is likely that is not set up corectly. Would you like to diagnose blah blah."

So i chose yes and yes until it prompted me to enter the root password. What is the rrot password guys? and i'm assuming the the error is maybe my monitor or video card? am i right? what should i do?

[tr333]

I use Ubuntu, so I can't help you that much. I'm guessing that the root password would have been chosen during the system install. The root account is basically equivalent to the Administrator account on Windows systems. On Ubuntu the administrator is the first user account that was setup on the machine, but I suspect this is not the case with Fedora.

EDIT: Just noticed that this is on a livecd... perhaps you could try running the command "startx" to try to get the GUI to start up. If all else fails then you could download an Ubuntu livecd and try that.

[zynder]

Yeah but i wanna try Fedora Core. Yes, i typed in "startx" and it went to the configuration but bam, pops up the same error saying server x will restart. Anyway, i have completed Fedora Core 7. This time it isnt live CD, its the real thing. Hope it works.

[sunburnt]

Yeah but i wanna try Fedora Core. Yes, i typed in "startx" and it went to the configuration but bam, pops up the same error saying server x will restart. Anyway, i have completed Fedora Core 7. This time it isnt live CD, its the real thing. Hope it works.

If it still isn't working correctly, you can post your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file -- this will give anyone who wants to help more detailed information about what the problem is.

[wossname]

You're not using SSH to access this box are you?

On a different note it sounds like the default runlevel is set to 3 (multiuser text mode). If you are feeling adventurous, edit your /etc/inittab file look for a line that looks like this...

id:3:initdefault:

and change the 3 to a 5. then save it and reboot.

Do this at your own risk, I take no responsibility for you trashing your setup files .

[kregg]

Does Fedora Core 3 allow the use of sudo?

If so, type

sudo bash

to get into the root terminal (a major flaw in ubuntu) and type

passwd

to change your password (follow onscreen instructions - If nothing comes up when you enter password, it is normal since this is a security measure).

[kregg]

Can you post the output of the error message? Maybe then we can give a better solution?