root cannot login tho sudo user can

[Robin Laing]

Karl L wrote:
> On Thu, 13 May 2004 07:02:55 -0400
> Bob Chiodini <chiodr at kscems.ksc.nasa.gov> wrote:
> 
> 
>>On Wed, 2004-05-12 at 22:49, Karl L wrote:
>>
>>>Comparing the files in the two directories I find that .Xclients is missing from the /root directory so I'm following that lead. I'll look
>>>for information on this to see if it has any significance.
>>>
>>>At least this accounts for the difference in treatment of root and
>>>user911 by the X interface.  What caused it and how to fix it remains
>>>to be addressed.  Any suggestions?
>>>
>>>Karl L
>>
>>Karl,
>>
>>I do not have a .Xclients file in my /root directory either, and root
>>does not have a problem logging into X. What's in  ~user911/.Xclients?
>>
>>Exactly what happens when you try to log in to X as root?  Does the
>>screen go blue for a short period and then back to the login dialog?
>>
>>Anything significant in /var/log/XFree86.0.log?
>>
>>If you switch to runlevel 3, can you log in as root?  If so, what errors
>>does startx emit?  The last few lines of output at the terminal should
>>be some kind of error message.
>>
>>As a last resort:  While still logged in as root on runlevel 3 delete
>>all of the hidden (.) files and directories in /tmp.  Caveat:  I've
>>never had to do this for root, usually it's a user who cannot login, but
>>it's worth a try.
>>
>>Bob...
>>
>>
>>
> 
> 1. The file .Xclients isn't involved in the problem as you can see from
> its contents:
> #!/bin/bash
> 
> # Created by Red Hat Desktop Switcher
> 
> if [ -e "$HOME/.Xclients-$HOSTNAME$DISPLAY" ]; then
>     exec $HOME/.Xclients-$HOSTNAME$DISPLAY
> else
>     exec $HOME/.Xclients-default
> fi
> 
> I put a copy in /root and the only result was that I got the '10-second'
> warning when I tried to login as root, blocking further access.
> 
> 2.  The only warning in XFree86.log is:
> WW Open APM failed (/dev/apm_bios)  No such device.
> 
> No surprising.
> 
> 3.  Switched to run-level 3 and login as root was normal, further
> implicating X in the problem (if there was any doubt by now)
> 

At this point I would work on getting X to work with startx.

 From memory (which isn't the greatest) is have typed in
startx 2>xerror
and read the file to see what messages I get here.

Of course after typing in startx, look at the log file.

This is provided in the xfree86 documentation for troubleshooting.

-- 
Robin Laing