Can't Start X - extreme legacy system, extreme noob

[theboutros]

I had a coworker (now former coworker) set up a machine for me about 6 years ago so I could run a web server from my house. He put on Fedora Core (release 1 kernel 4.4.22-1.2115 on i686), MySQL, PHP, and Coppermine - which I use to run the web site.

I have done pretty much NOTHING to this machine except upload images via my Windows computers since it was created.

I do know I have logged into a nice pretty interface once or twice when I had to configure the DNS when I switched my home network setup (changed sub domains etc...)

Yesterday I was logged in and in a misguided attempt to get VNC and Samba working and upon reboot I managed to screw it up so that I no longer have any interface outside of the plain on text screens I would see if I connected via Putty (or some other means like that).

As you've figured out, I'm so far from knowing anything about Linux that I'm pretty much dead in the water here. I do know that my services are all still working (the web site is still serving up pages) and I can connect just fine, but any attempt to StartX results in:

/usr/X11R6/bin/X: /lib/tls/libc.so.6: version 'GLIBC_2.3.4' not found (required by /usr/X11R6/bin/X)

And I have no idea what to do about it. I did download and (attempt) to install XFree86 at some point (installation instructions for VNC seemed to indicate this was a necessary step) and don't even have anything on my machine related to that version of GLIBC (the problem maybe?).

Anyway, I'm frustrated, and beginning to think I'm screwed, and I suspect that there's no "UNDO" button for this mess (please tell me there is!)

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You know the rest...

[Rubberman]

First, and last, law of computing - BACKUP!!!

Oops, forgot to do that, right? Now, what again is the FIRST law of computing? Sorry, but my sarcasm gene got out of control there...

You have a really old, out-of-date system. However, except to run VNC, what do you need X for, anyway? Your web server doesn't need it (obviously). Current X11 implementations are using Xorg, not Xfree86 any longer. My guess is that the VNC installation is what fubar'd your system, since it likely was looking for Xorg, ... and I suspect that your system is too dated (OS-wise) to run Xorg. So, if your Samba is working (it should), and since your web services are still working, then breath a sigh of relief that you didn't mung the system any worse than you did.

Final bit of advice (yes, there is no UNDO THIS button for what you did, unless you did a bit-image backup of the system before you pressed the DO THIS button), if you want to play with a current version of Linux, look at the ZaReason, Inc. :: Laptops, Desktops, Servers, and Peripherals Designed for Ubuntu Linux web site. They have a lot of really nifty, inexpensive, Linux systems with the latest and greatest distributions for you to play with. They are the nicest people, and only sell fully qualified Linux systems - you are guaranteed that all the hardware works when you flip the big red switch to the "ON" position.

[theboutros]

Thanks for the reply. I don't *need* X, but having cut my teeth in a Windows world, it was always something quasi-familiar I could turn to when I needed to access that machine. I've installed reams of programs in Windows for all sorts of things and never had a single one eff me over this badly.

I'd be more than happy to run something newer, except I'd have to get my website transferred over to it, and without my old friend the Windows install wizard I'm afraid the hassle is just not worth it. Might get a University kid to take it on as a project and throw him a few bucks...

I will take a look at the link you sent, but I'm rapidly coming to terms with having to let this machine hum along as it is until I run out of space or something on it dies. Backing up regularly, of course.

Thanks again (for your insight, and for confirming my ineptitude).