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Troubleshooting X11: Solution for non-admin user problems

Troubleshooting X11: Solution for non-admin user problems

CNET staff

X11, Apple's adaptation of the X Window System under Mac OS X, allows users to run applications like OpenOffice and other X Window packages.

Apple recently released a new beta of X11, version 0.2.1, which dramatically boosts performance among other enhancements. However, the new release also fails to delete some lock-files that it creates in the /tmp directory:
  • /tmp/.X0-lock
  • /tmp/.X11-unix/
  • /tmp/.X11-unix/X0

While the presence of these files does not cause a problem for the admin user, any other user that attempts to launch and use X11 will be presented with an error message similar to:

"Fatal server error: Could not create server lock file: /tmp/.X0-lock."

The problem can be resolved by the admin user deleting the tmp files via the Terminal (after closing X11) with the command:

cd /tmp ; sudo rm -Rv .X*

Unfortunately, a handful of readers have reported that deleting the tmp files - particularly the .X0-lock file - results in failure of X11 for all users. If this happens, you will need to reinstall the original X11 0.2.1 package.

Resources

  • OpenOffice
  • X Window packages
  • X11 0.2.1 package
  • More from Late-Breakers