Help I messed up my Linux

**tom boucher** · 02-06-2005

I have Mandrake 10.1 with KDE. I was in the configuration section, messing with screen resolution and was prompted that i must log out for the changes to take effect. I thought I logged out, got stuck, and restarted the X server session?, and restarted the computer. Now when I start the computer, it comes up to my login/password screen, and then logs me on as the root user. At least I think that is what it does since the $ preceeds the prompt. I have no idea how to get it to keep going. How do I get Linux to come back up automaticly? Did I mess something up with the autologin deal? HELP. Thanks

**V3R1745** · 02-06-2005

Something very similar happened to me. I was installing Nvidia drivers, and it asked me to reboot and now just goes to the terminal prompt. Any help for either of us would be appreciated. I have a computer engineer next door looking at it, so if he helps me out I'll post what he does.

**celine** · 02-06-2005

... but $ is for regular users and # is for root (I have Mandrake too).

**samael26** · 02-06-2005

why don't you type : start x
This should launch the graphical interface

**eiri** · 02-09-2005

I had this problem too.
Cause is that kernel module nvidia was not loaded.
Adding text nvidia to /etc/modules and to /etc/modules.preload fixed this problem

**AndrewB** · 02-09-2005

i think your problem is with the x86 files
have you got a live cd of any disrto's?
cos that would make it easier for me to explain

**jeremy1701** · 02-09-2005

tom boucher,
If ever you change a config option and then the system is borked, you can simply change back to the old configuration. Try loging in at the prompt you get when you start. su to root, then go the /etc/X11 directory. There should be a file called Xorg.conf that is a sym link to something like xf86conf-4 or something close to that. There should also be one called xf86conf-4.bak or maybe .old.

Code:

mv xf86conf-4 xf86conf-4.backup
mv xf86conf-4.bak xf86conf-4

This will rename the borked one to something different, and move the old one (that workded) over the borked one. You should then be able to startx agian.

Let me know if that works,
Jeremy

**adrenaline** · 02-09-2005

Originally Posted by jeremy1701

tom boucher,

Code:

mv xf86conf-4 xf86conf-4.backup
mv xf86conf-4.bak xf86conf-4

This will rename the borked one to something different, and move the old one (that workded) over the borked one. You should then be able to startx agian.

Let me know if that works,
Jeremy

Great advice, but instead of the mv option use cp. If you use mv it will delete the backup and overight the original borked file. If you use cp it will over right the borked file and the original backup will still be there for the next time it happens.

Code:

cp xf86conf-4 xf86conf-4.backup
cp xf86conf-4.bak xf86conf-4

mv = move
cp = copy

*Sorry Jeremy, didn't want to step on your toes, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

**jeremy1701** · 02-09-2005

*Sorry Jeremy, didn't want to step on your toes, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Dude, no worries. It's an excellent idea!

Jeremy

Thread Tools

Display

Help I messed up my Linux

Same problem

... no the help you expected

solution

Posting Permissions