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could not open default font 'fixed'

I just upgraded a computer from RedHat 6.0 (whose Xserver ran fine) to RedHat 6.2. After completing the upgrade, X now fails to work. Xconfigurator runs, correctly identifies the card and monitor, and the test-X it runs works fine. However, when I actually do startx, the screen blanks, then X stops and I get an error message:

failed to set default font path '/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType,unix/:-1'

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'

The TrueType directory it refers to did not exist, I created one that was a link to the ttfonts directory in the hopes of making it work. Otherwise, I haven't done anything to it. Did some configuration files not get updated? I'm not sure where to go from here . . .

-Jim

sultrix

Ive had a problem like this in the past.

Here are some things you may want to look at if you havn't already.

1) Review your /etc/XF86Config file for a listing of font paths
2) Make sure all paths listed have a fonts.alias and a fonts.dir file
3) If those files don't exist use /usr/X11R6/bin/mkfontdir

I hope this gives you enought to work with.

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philiph_elvis

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Ted22

Try reming out # the font path in XF86Config and see if you can startx.

jlevie

It sounds like you may have installed TrueType font support at some point in the past (probably via freetype or similar). Something in startx or what it invokes is adding the TrueType directory to the font path and when it doesn't exist you get the error. I'd suggest following the process to find where the font path is being modified and removing that definition.

jyu_88

I think there's nothing wrong with XF86Config. It is just xfs (the font server) not running. It is supposed to start by rc2. But, if you are in single user mode using 'startx' to start X, it will not be there. Try to start it first,
'/etc/rc.d/init.d/xfs start'.

been there done that :-(

jlevie

It probably isn't running, but that would because it thinks it's supposed to serve a font dir that isn't there. My experience is that that'll cause the font server to abort.

jlevie

Look in /etc/X11/fs/config for the line that defines the TrueType font dir and comment it out or delete it. While you're in the file it would "be a good thing" to check the other font dir specifications to make sure that they exist.

Ted22

If you just rem out the font path in XF86Config you can usually startx because it defaults to something. I had a simalar thing happen when I made users conflicting with root and other existing users and xfs would not start. It doesn't solve the problem, but moves you a step closer.

truittj

ASKER

I commented out the bad fontpath lines in /etc/X11/XF86Config and it works now. Thanks for the extra information on how RedHat 6.2's X is now handling fonts, it was something that I was having trouble figuring out by just reading the config files.

-Jim

PearlCity

For such an error //could not open default font 'fixed'//
even a 'disk space run out' can be a reason