> > -- > > > I'm running X; however, I'm running it as root. When I try running > Netscape in an xterm window, it tells me I can't run Netscape as root. So > I try logging in as a normal user and I get the "can't open display" > message. If I try "netscape &" like you suggest above, I get a message > like "[1] 563". > > As I tell you these details, I'm getting the sneaking suspicion that my > problem is related to user privileges.
You're running X as root (meaning the desktop is root's) and then attempting to run netscape as a user. H/e, when netscape tries to open a window it can't b/c it doesn't have permission to access the desktop--that's the reason for the error message. The xterm session doesn't give your user account any x privilidges. The thing to do is run X from your user account rather than from root. You really shouldn't be running X all the time as root anyway. Run X (and your system normally) as a user, and su to root to perform system maintenance and configuration--the only times you should be logged as root in the first place. :) Jason