problems starting x

If the above file is not found (apparently the case with these users), then...

This one will be used?

Or one of those two. (In fact it is probably that first one,usr-X11R6-lib-X11-xinit-xinitrc, though it might be a symlink toetc-X11-xinit-xinitrc. And that might be a symlink to one of several sample xinitrc files in that directory.)

Regardless, pick one of the sample files and copy it to ~-.xinitrc and then edit it to start the window manger of choice, and add whatever initialization or other programs you want to have started with X. For example you might want to use xset to change the mouse or keyboard characteristics. xsetroot can change the background color of the root window and other programs can make it an image. You might want to start an xterm or some other program before the window manager takes control, or maybe not...

Check to see what is in the xinitrc files. If it is getting as far as starting the X server, look invar-logfor a log file, and see what it says is happening.

You can also just do "X -probeonly" to get the X server log.

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