I started wish from the Terminal. It brings up a % prompt and launches a small grey window Typed linuxcnc (inside the terminal, at the % prompt) The initial configuration selection window opens, I chose the "axis_mm" configuration and clicked OK. It thinks for a while, and then sends the same error message ending in "undefined symbol: _TIFFsetString, version LIBTIFF_4.0"
Thanks again for your time. Vector Hasting