I found the problem. barrabas:~ # less /home/lancelot/.xsession-errors /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession: line 184: xmodmap: command not found /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession: line 186: xrdb: command not found /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession: line 187: xrdb: command not found Error: Unable to find a window manager. Please make sure you installed one! Exiting... /home/lancelot/.xinitrc: line 53: xmessage: command not found /home/lancelot/.xinitrc: line 1: exec: xterm: not found ls -ld /usr/X11R6 and /usr/X11R6/bin both had permissions -drx------. Somehow they got scrambled when I updated XFree86. Regards Sid.