CentOS - May 2011 - Typing "startx" gives me a black scrren, have to reboot to get back to runlevel 3

Hello everyone,

I have been having a vexing problem for a year, and I cannot solve it. 
Hopefully, someone has a tip to get me over the hump to fix this once and 
for all.

When I type "startx" from root, I get:

(EE) fglrx(0): atiddxDriScreenInit failed, GPS not been initialized.
(WW) fglrx(0): ***********************************************
(WW) fglrx(0): * DRI initialization failed!                  *
(WW) fglrx(0): * (maybe driver kernel module missing or bad) *
(WW) fglrx(0): * 2D acceleraton available (MMIO)             *
(WW) fglrx(0): * no 3D acceleration available                *
(WW) fglrx(0): ********************************************* *
(II) fglrx(0): FBADPhys: 0xf00000000 FBMappedSize: 0x10000000
(WW) fglrx(0): Failed to set up write-combining range 
(0xd0000000,0x10000000)

I get a ton of stuff before this, but just info messages. Where should I 
start looking to fix this problem? I use the Redhat experimental kernels
at http://epople.redhat.com/jwilson/el5/. Running CentOS 5.6,
fully patched as of this morning with the gdb/OO updates.

*******************************************************************************
Gilbert Sebenste                                                     ********
(My opinions only!)                                                  ******
Staff Meteorologist, Northern Illinois University                      ****
E-mail: sebenste at weather.admin.niu.edu                                  ***
web: http://weather.admin.niu.edu                                      **
*******************************************************************************

Gilbert Sebenste wrote on 05/07/2011 11:57 AM:
...
> I get a ton of stuff before this, but just info messages. Where should I
> start looking to fix this problem? I use the Redhat experimental kernels
> at http://epople.redhat.com/jwilson/el5/. Running CentOS 5.6,
> fully patched as of this morning with the gdb/OO updates.
Not sure what the experimental kernels have to do with it, but you might 
try a standard kernel.

See if this helps:
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/ConfigureNewVideoCard

If still having problems then see FAQ #23 at
http://wiki.centos.org/FAQ/General

Phil