Can only start X as root

[ElB]

Using the Debian squeeze image all of a sudden startx doesn't start X unless I'm logged in as root -- logging in as pi and trying it I get two FBDEV(0) FBIOBLANK: Operation not permitted errors, a mouse error (failed to initialize for relative axes), the screen goes blank for a second, and I'm returned to the shell with "waiting for X server to shut down".

The only things I've really fiddled with from the default install are installing some dev tools, compiling FCEUltra (a NES emulator), installing Chromium (Midori didn't want to start), and tweaking config.txt to force HDMI mode. I've restarted several times since doing all those and it was working fine -- as far as I'm aware I changed nothing between it working and not working.

[Malvineous]

It sounds like the X binaries aren't suid root as they can't access the hardware any more. Can you try removing and reinstalling the X packages? That might reset some necessary permissions.

[scottjanousek]

DITTO!

Sorry for noob question, but how does one exactly remove X? I've never done it. apt?

[Malvineous]

Google can help here as Debian is widely used, but I imagine it would go something like this:

Code: Select all

# Find out which package owns one of the X-Windows files
$ dpkg-query -S /usr/bin/xinit

# Reinstall <package>, as shown by previous command
$ apt-get install --reinstall <package>

[jhereg]

Have you checked space on your card? I had similar errors when I installed Wheezy and did update, upgrade, and rpi-update.