jcollins1
asked on
Respawning too fast error after Redhat 7.1 install
I just installed Redhat 7.1 on my laptop. Here are the laptop specs:
Dell Latitude CPx
Video Card: ATI Technologies Inc. RAGE P/M Mobility AGP 2x
Monitor I'm using: ViewSonic GS771
NIC: Intel Pro/100 SR Mobile Combo Adapter
After the install I rebooted the computer and the screen flashes a few times and takes me to a loging prompt. After a few minutes I get this message,
INIT: Id "x" respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minutes.
I figured this had something to do with my video card/monitor. I then tried changing monitors but that didn't help. I then tried going into Xconfigurator and changing video card/monitor settings, but that did not help.
I'm fairly new to Linux so if any of you have any ideas, please provide detailed steps for things I could try.
thanks
Dell Latitude CPx
Video Card: ATI Technologies Inc. RAGE P/M Mobility AGP 2x
Monitor I'm using: ViewSonic GS771
NIC: Intel Pro/100 SR Mobile Combo Adapter
After the install I rebooted the computer and the screen flashes a few times and takes me to a loging prompt. After a few minutes I get this message,
INIT: Id "x" respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minutes.
I figured this had something to do with my video card/monitor. I then tried changing monitors but that didn't help. I then tried going into Xconfigurator and changing video card/monitor settings, but that did not help.
I'm fairly new to Linux so if any of you have any ideas, please provide detailed steps for things I could try.
thanks
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You might also want to look for any UNIX domain sockets under the /tmp directory and /var. You can use the command command: 'find /tmp /var -type s -ls' to look for them.
You'll normally find a couple of them under /var for things like the printer (might also be under /dev) and gpmctl (console mouse and cut/paste support) as well as one or two sockets for your X server(s). Those would normally be in the /tmp/.X11-unix/ directory and be named X0, X1, etc. (If you've never run multiple concurrent X sessions then you'll only see X0 under there).
You probably don't have to do anything with those sockets. However, it might make sense to blow away the one's under /tmp. X will (re-)create those as necessary.
You'll normally find a couple of them under /var for things like the printer (might also be under /dev) and gpmctl (console mouse and cut/paste support) as well as one or two sockets for your X server(s). Those would normally be in the /tmp/.X11-unix/ directory and be named X0, X1, etc. (If you've never run multiple concurrent X sessions then you'll only see X0 under there).
You probably don't have to do anything with those sockets. However, it might make sense to blow away the one's under /tmp. X will (re-)create those as necessary.
I've seen several X related problems immediately after a 7.1 install, which I attribute to the 'as shipped' version of Xconfigurator. In all cases so far, it appeared that X was properly configured during installation but the X server would fail when the system rebooted after the install.
When I install a RedHat system I never configure X during the install, but rather wait until the system is up and I've applied all of the applicable RedHat updates. In the case of 7.1 those happen to include an updated version of Xconfigurator. So far updating the system and configuring X, post-install, has worked every time.
To fix your problem I'd recommend that you edit /etc/inittab and comment out the prefdm line that spawns X (run level 5 and typically the last line in the file). Well that or take the system to runlevel 3 with 'init 3'. The get and apply all applicable updates with 'rpm -F some update' and re-configure X with the new Xconfigurator.
When I install a RedHat system I never configure X during the install, but rather wait until the system is up and I've applied all of the applicable RedHat updates. In the case of 7.1 those happen to include an updated version of Xconfigurator. So far updating the system and configuring X, post-install, has worked every time.
To fix your problem I'd recommend that you edit /etc/inittab and comment out the prefdm line that spawns X (run level 5 and typically the last line in the file). Well that or take the system to runlevel 3 with 'init 3'. The get and apply all applicable updates with 'rpm -F some update' and re-configure X with the new Xconfigurator.
You could also hit ctl-x at the graphical boot screen and type 'linux 3' at the boot: prompt so it looks like :
boot: linux 3
then press enter and it should stop at run-level three.
In the inittab file there will be a line something like :
x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/prefd
If you're using gnome it probably points to gdm (kde - kdm or even xdm). You may need to find the process-id file and delete it - e.g. /var/run/gdm.pid . If its still there the system thinks its already running.
Rgds