Tim Waugh <twaugh@xxxxxxxxxx> writes: >> $ vncserver >> xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority >> xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority > > What sort of login session is this? Local console, local X, SSH > login, su or something else? Logged in as user reader at console. Startx from console User reader runs (from xterm): $ vncserver (and gets) xauth: /home/reader/.Xauthority not writable, changes will be ignored xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority But I'm noticing now that this is a more general error so something more is probably wrong here. ls -l .Xauthority showed a file owned by root in readers ~/. sudo rm -f .Xauthority Then drop to runlevel 3. Logout completely, log back in A simple startx from a fresh login produces a similar error that output is appended in line at the end of this message. Also I notice now there is are these two .Xauthority* files but no plain .Xauthority. $ ls -l .Xauth* -rw------- 2 reader reader 0 Dec 13 07:31 .Xauthority-c -rw------- 2 reader reader 0 Dec 13 07:31 .Xauthority-l === Output from startx log. cat startx.log xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority xauth: error in locking authority file /home/reader/.Xauthority X Window System Version 6.8.1 Release Date: 17 September 2004 X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.8.1 Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.9-1.751_ELsmp i686 [ELF] Current Operating System: Linux reader.local.net0 2.6.9-1.1014_FC4 #1 Fri Dec 3 20:38:05 EST 2004 i686 Build Date: 01 December 2004 Build Host: tweety.build.redhat.com Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.X.Org to make sure that you have the latest version. Module Loader present OS Kernel: Linux version 2.6.9-1.1014_FC4 (bhcompile@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) (gcc version 3.4.3 20041125 (Red Hat 3.4.3-7)) #1 Fri Dec 3 20:38:05 EST 2004 Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Dec 13 07:35:58 2004 (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" (WW) RADEON(0): Failed to set up write-combining range (0xe8000000,0x4000000) <stdin>:9: invalid preprocessing directive #emacs <stdin>:17: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:24: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:29: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:30: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:31: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:32: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:35: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:37: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:38: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:52: invalid preprocessing directive #[ <stdin>:73: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:74: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:75: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:76: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:77: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:78: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:79: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:80: invalid preprocessing directive ## xset: bad font path element (#72), possible causes are: Directory does not exist or has wrong permissions Directory missing fonts.dir Incorrect font server address or syntax xset: bad font path element (#72), possible causes are: Directory does not exist or has wrong permissions Directory missing fonts.dir Incorrect font server address or syntax startkde: Starting up... kbuildsycoca running... SetClientVersion: 0 8 <stdin>:479: invalid preprocessing directive #emacs <stdin>:487: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:494: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:499: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:500: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:501: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:502: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:505: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:507: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:508: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:522: invalid preprocessing directive #[ <stdin>:543: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:544: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:545: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:546: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:547: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:548: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:549: invalid preprocessing directive ## <stdin>:550: invalid preprocessing directive ## ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549:(snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549:(snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549:(snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe