kde and fluxbox both freeze at startup

[deeany]

upon starting up, KDE gets to point where it says "restoring session" and then the computer freezes.

the computer also freezes when loading fluxbox. there is no output in this case; the cursor turns from an X to a pointer and nothing else happens.

in both cases, the mouse is stil responsive but the keyboard is unresponsive.

neither KDE nor fluxbox have worked before; this is a new system.

~./xinitrc = "exec startkde" (startfluxbox when using fluxbox)

here's the system info:

gentoo 2006.1 64 bit
AMD Athlon 64 3000
nforce4 chipset
Geforce 6600 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card
512 MB generic DDR memory
Western Digital Caviar 40 MB IDE HD

what other information will you need to help diagnose the problem?

[at240]

Hi there deeany

Some questions:

1. What kernel are you running?
2. What version of the nvidia drivers (if you're using them)?
3. Have you ever managed to start X successfully on this machine?

Could you post your X log (/var/log/Xorg.0.log) or maybe the latter bits of it, if it looks like a problem is being reported?

Also, could you post your Xorg.conf, stripped of its comments?

[deeany]

1. kernel: linux-2.6.15-gentoo-r5
2. i don't believe i am using any nvidia drivers. i did not install any.
3. when i do startx as root, a terminal window, clock and third window pop up. i can run commands from the terminal window.

i cannot seem to find an Xorg.conf -- i looked in /etc/x11 and ~/ -- there is no /x11/

the Xorg.0.log does not seem to be reporting any errors. here's the last of it:

(II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFree86-Bigfont
(II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
(II) Initializing built-in extension RANDR
(II) Initializing built-in extension COMPOSITE
(II) Initializing built-in extension DAMAGE
(II) Initializing built-in extension XEVIE (WW) : No Device specified, looking for one...
(II) : Setting Device option to "/dev/psaux"
(--) : Device: "/dev/psaux"
(==) : Protocol: "Auto"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) : Core Pointer
(==) : Emulate3Buttons, Emulate3Timeout: 50
(==) : Buttons: 3
(**) : SmartScroll: 1
(**) Option "CoreKeyboard"
(**) : Core Keyboard
(**) Option "Protocol" "standard"
(**) : Protocol: standard
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
(**) : XkbRules: "xorg"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
(**) : XkbModel: "pc105"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "us"
(**) : XkbLayout: "us"
(**) Option "CustomKeycodes" "off"
(**) : CustomKeycodes disabled
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "" (type: KEYBOARD)
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "" (type: MOUSE)
(--) : PnP-detected protocol: "ExplorerPS/2"
(II) : ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded

[at240]

[deeany]

i went through the xorgconfig using what i think are the right values for my mouse, keyboard and monitor. now, i get:

(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/mouse

the xorg log now reflects this, it's last lines are:

No core pointer

Fatal server error:
failed to initialize core devices

how do i find where my mouse is located in /dev/ ?

[deeany]

nevermind i figured it out -- /dev/input/mice -- now, no errors relating to the mouse.

but it still won't load KDE for the user with "startkde" in the .xinitrc.

the screen is black, except for the mouse pointer. it did not bring up the KDE welcome-screen like last time.

i can't seem to get out of this -- tried ctl-alt-backspace, ctl-c, and mashing all the buttons together.

here is what the xorg log says at the end:

(--) Mouse1: PnP-detected protocol: "Explorer PS/2"
(II) Mouse1: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded
Could not init font path element /usr/share/fonts/local/, removing from list!

thanks for the help

[at240]

This is odd. It looks, from the X log you posted earlier, that the keyboard is being recognised.

What driver have you selected in the "Device" section of xorgconfig? Could you post the contents of the whole file, perhaps (minus all those comments)?

Nothing strange in /var/log/messages, either?

[deeany]

here is the xorgconfig

[deeany]

also, i have a 32 bit version of gentoo that i could try -- is it possible that the 64 bit version is not ready?

[deeany]

before you lose sleep over this -- i had similar troubles with kubuntu 64 bit version, but not ubuntu 32 bit version.

i am currently installing the 32 bit version of gentoo. i'll post again if i meet the same problem

[at240]

Interesting. I hope the 32 bit version works.

It would be interesting too to see if you can get the 64 bit version going using the nvidia proprietary drivers (which will provide much better quality in any case).

[deeany]

same problem with 32 bit version

where can i get those drivers?

[at240]

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml should help with that. There is also a version on the gentoo wiki.

Can I just confirm: is it still the case that if you do a plain startx, all is OK (you get twm, the very simple window manager you described earlier)--including keyboard/mouse?

[deeany]

yes, twm starts.