I've taken what is probably an easy way out:- yum remove kernel-smp-2.6.18-1.2257.fc5 followed by yum install kernel-smp-2.6.18-1.2257.fc5 which appears to have sorted out whatever was upsetting it. I'm running with the 2257 kernel now. The only thing I can think of that may have led to this is, I might have terminated a yum update a couple of weeks back, having decided that it was going to take way too long to complete at the time. I had to use XP to get on with what I was supposed to be doing. One evening before leaving work I left it to work on yum -y update ; shutdown -h now Following morning it was shut down all right but then wouldn't boot the new kernel. Dave F