Thanks to all who have replied. I've tried a few using redmond Linux (Lycoris..much better namer) and some worked, some didn't. For example, the ALT-F2 method, then "Run As" with the associative command wanted (in this case KMail) brought up nothing? The mthod given whereby you use "xhost +localhost" etc went OK for GIMP, but I had a DCOP error for Kmail (which is what we're trying to get running in reality). The other method suggested was "su -l", but this didn't help either. I haven't yet tried running the change form "X Display :0 to :1" etc., so that may be what I'm looking for. We're in the situation where I'm trying to let my wife check her business email address through her own KMail account, via her own Linux account but whilst in my account and on my desktop. In Windows XP if I were, say, running IE6 and checking my email through OE, my Wife could "Switch User", log in to her account graphically and check her mail whilst my processes are left unscathed. When she logs out and "Switches User" again, I'm back where I was with IE6 running and OE checking mail or whatever--just as if she had never logged out or changed user. I'm not sure if I'd like the idea of having to have an extra X running at the moment (on Lycoris anyway) since even with 448MB RAM Redmond is being quite a hog and using 200-odd MB of swap space as it is, and it's showing! Anyway, any other ideas would be welcomed but thanks again to you experts..appreciate your help greatly!! Paul (tired after Saturday shopping....)