[kraddler2003]

ok..another problem..mandrake 9.1 locked up on me..opened a window and then tried to close it..but it wouldnt..thought id just reboot..when i rebooted it started to shut down and when it got to display manager it said it failed..but it shut down and rebooted but it rebooted to a dos like interface..login and password..entered in login and password but dont know where to go from there??what about this rescue option on the boot cd??is that what i use??i couldnt figure it out so i just reinstalled mandrake..but id rather now how to fix it the right way..

[Mithrilhall]

Try this at shell (dos like interface).

startx

[lynch]

In addition to Mithrilhall's tip,try these:
If a window or app locks up and you can still use the mouse,open an xterminal and type xkill .This will allow you to kill the process by placing the mouse pointer over the x-out button of the window and left-clicking.
If you just get a blacked-out screen with the mouse pointer use this keyboard combination to stop and restart the x-server: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
HTH
lynch