KDE has collapsed

[capnjim]

I have been happily using KDE as my desktop environment on Mandriva Spring 2007.1. I just installed Sunbird and was configuring it when it froze, and nothing I did could get the system to recover. I rebooted the machine, and now cannot log on using KDE for any user. It seems to try and start, and then just drops back to the logon screen again. About one try in five it will randomly log on using IceWM, which is what I am using right now.

Can anyone give advice on how to recover from this sort of thing?

Cheers.

[capnjim]

Further information: The error log is showing that it "Can't do seteuid"

[capnjim]

I can log in and get a KDE session as root, but not as any other user. Error in every case is "Can't do seteuid".

I'm thinking this is permissions related. Can anyone suggest what files etc I should look at as far as permissions and what they should be set to?

[daark.child]

For us to find out what the problem is, you have to do some diagnostics. Try the commands below and post back any error messages

1. At the login manager screen, do CTRL-ALT-F1 so that you see a terminal screen
2. Login to the terminal as root
3. Kill X by entering the command

   #init 3

4. Exit as root and login to the terminal as a normal user
5. Enter the command

   $startx

[fingal]

You might also consider removing Sunbird as root by typing urpme sunbird, or whatever the binary is called. This assumes an rpm install.

[capnjim]

Thanks for the suggestions. Removing Sunbird was one of the first things I did, and it has not made a difference,

I will be away from home today but will run the diagnostics tomorrow.

I have had another thought: I relocated /usr to a different physical drive about two weeks ago, and also moved /home. Maybe something about this had an effect? But I had rebooted the machine at least twice since then with no problems.

[capnjim]

daark.child, I did as you suggested and got an error saying it could not move the old log file. Fixed this, then got an error saying it could not open /dev/tty0. Fixed this, then got more and more errors...

In the end I gave up, backed up up /home, reinstalled Mandriva (actually, took the opporutnity to put on Powerpack instead of Free), remounted /home and everything is fine now. Thanks for your help.

Bit worried about Sunbird now...

[raxxal]

For us to find out what the problem is, you have to do some diagnostics. Try the commands below and post back any error messages

1. At the login manager screen, do CTRL-ALT-F1 so that you see a terminal screen
2. Login to the terminal as root
3. Kill X by entering the command

   #init 3

4. Exit as root and login to the terminal as a normal user
5. Enter the command

   $startx

There is an easy way to acomplish the same thing: Press Ctrl+Alt+Backspace all together, and bingo! You are back at the login screen with a fresh X windows.