thanks for your suggestions; lucky the problem was right on the desktop: /root/.xsessions-errors size: ~1 gig the file keeps growing, repeating the pattern below. I tried the correct kbdmodel "microsoft" in XF86cConfig: no effect. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks. the pattern : KCharset: Wrong charset! KCharset: Wrong charset! KCharset: Wrong charset! KiKbd: X11 error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) KiKbd: X11 error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) KiKbd: X11 error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) PID could not get read. PID could not get read. KCharset: Wrong charset! KCharset: Wrong charset! KCharset: Wrong charset! KCharset: Wrong charset! _____________________________________________ NetZero - Defenders of the Free World Click here for FREE Internet Access and Email http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html