X server won't start - xfs: cannot establish any listening sockets

[Chris McD]

Hi,

after restarting my computer X won't start as the kernel enters run 
lever 5. the auto x config starts but cannot fix it.  I get these 
outputs from the logs in /var/log/:

XFree86.0.log:
> Could not init font path element unix/:7100, removing from list!
> 
> Fatal server error:
> could not open default font 'fixed'

messages:
> Jan  7 21:29:09 home xfs: xfs startup succeeded
> Jan  7 21:29:09 home xfs: cannot establish any listening sockets 
> [..]
> Jan  7 21:29:18 home gpm[2531]: O0o.oops(): [gpm.c(949)]: 
> Jan  7 21:29:18 home gpm[2531]: mouse initialization failed
> Jan  7 21:29:26 home gdm[2717]: gdm_slave_xioerror_handler: Fatal X error - Restarting :0
> Jan  7 21:29:35 home gdm[2720]: gdm_slave_xioerror_handler: Fatal X error - Restarting :0
> Jan  7 21:29:48 home gdm[2723]: gdm_slave_xioerror_handler: Fatal X error - Restarting :0
> [etc]

I don't really know much about this but it seems that the problem is the 
x font server, specifically "xfs: cannot establish any listening sockets" .
Restarting xfs doesn't seem to make any difference. Does anyone know 
what the problem is and what to do about it?

Cheers,
Chris