What does it say in: /etc/X11/xorg.conf What does it say in: /var/log/xorg.0.log After the Xserver has failed to start? > 2 - startx -- :0 doesn't work. I don't know anything about Gnome but you might check to see if you have installed: xinit (I have v.1.1.1-1) if not that one should solve your problem, if everything above looks good. This package contains xinit and startx. good hunting -- C