Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 22213
GDM was already running, but seems to have been murdered mysteriously
Last modified: 2007-04-18 12:30:11 EDT
During starting up of the GNOME login interface the following error is generated: <filename> According to /var/run/gdm.pid gdm was already running, but seems to have been murdered mysteriously. This error message continues to be displayed (each time with a different and higher process id). If I login with root permissions and search for the gdm.pid under /var/run I could delete it but without any results. Also the screen is flickering all the time.
I am having the same problems, I cannot get an X server, as gdm keeps claiming its being murdered. and the screen keeps flashing. The only way I have found to stop it is to while its flashing, manage to login to a terminal and run Xconfigurator. However this only means the flashing screen turs off, I still cannot get an Xserver, and the problem returns when you restart.
Means gdm is crashing for some reason, I guess. Check for useful information in /var/log/gdm/:0.log? Otherwise the way to find out would be to build gdm with debugging and get it in a debugger. I can do that if I can make it crash - what video card, etc. do you guys have? What changes have you made to the default 7.0 setup? Did it do this since you installed, or did it appear at some point?
Below is the :0.log file, dont know if it is any use: XFree86 Version 4.0.1a / X Window System (protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6400) Release Date: 2 August 2000 If the server is older than 6-12 months, or if your card is newer than the above date, look for a newer version before reporting problems. (see http://www.XFree86.Org/FAQ) Operating System: Linux 2.2.5-22smp i686 [ELF] Module Loader present (==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Wed Jan 3 21:03:16 2001 (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4" Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (??) unknown. (==) ServerLayout "XFree86 Configured" (**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0) (**) | |-->Monitor "PBN5103" (**) | |-->Device "nVidia Corporation|GeForce 256 DDR" (**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0" (**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0" (**) XKB: layout: "gb" (**) FontPath set to "unix/:7100" (==) RgbPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb" (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules" (--) using VT number 9 As you can probably tell from this I have a Creative labe geforce annhillator pro graphics, with gefore 256 ddr chipshet, and 32b ram. I have recomplied the kernel, only adding in a Bt848 tv card, and ntfs file system, both of which I have only just recently done, and I have encountered the problem before this . I also have changes LILO commands, networiking names in Linuxconf, possibly could be this but I don't think so. Also when the system reboots, the messages 'Shutting down X server [Failed]' and 'Stopping lpd [Failed]' can be seen. (Lpd is fine on boot) I have had the problem 6 or 7 times now, and each time I cannot fix the problem and end up having to reinstall rh7. Is there a way I can reinstall gdm rather than having to reinstall the whole of rh7?
Sure, you can just 'rpm -e gdm' then 'rpm -Uvh gdmpackage.rpm' where gdmpackage.rpm is a file on your Red Hat CD, the exact filename starts with gdm and ends in rpm and has some version information in between. ;-) Also you can edit /etc/inittab to make the default runlevel 3 instead of 5, then gdm won't start, and you start x by logging in as a user and typing 'startx'. To do that change the line 'id:5:initdefault:' to have a 3 instead of a 5. Those are just workarounds though; still need to figure out what the bug is...
I have had another thought of what it could be. I have a user set up, so as when I log in with that user it opens a new x server in :1, in 8 bit colour mode, instead of in 24 bit colour mode. I think it could be caused by the order in which I logout of these servers, or rebooting with out closing :1 down first. I know it works on a friends version of redhat 6.2, and mine is set up idetically to that execpt I have a different graphics card, and of course rh7
*** Bug 23259 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Hi, This is bug is quite old and is very probably not relevant anymore. I'm going to close it, but if it occurs in a more recent release, please feel free to reopen.