Try CTRL-ALT-F1 and login as your favorite root user, and have fun finding what's wrong by tailing the log files (X startup log). Probably a tmp file keeping it from starting up, I had the same trouble with my wife's machine and it had a temp file that would not allow X to go, I removed it and it went okey dokey. Need to get my daughter to stop thinking the glowing lights on the front of the box mean that you "don't" push the button! Kelly Black KB0GBJ