Snow Leopard 10.6.2 can't run 'X11.app' (with system log)

Question

Hello everyone, English is not my mother tongue so may not be exactly correct, sorry about that.
Background:
I have a MacBook White (13-inch, Mid 2009) that isn't unibody, and was running Leopard 10.5.
I am the only one that will use the Mac and my user account is as the 'admin'.
When I was using 10.5, I could open the 'X11.app'.
But few days ago, I did a clean installation of 10.6.2 Snow Leopard from the USD$29 disc.
After that I installed the iLife '09 (the gray disc bundled with the MacBook),
and I cloned the drive to my ext. FireWire HD immediately after the installation of SL and iLife'09 by using the CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner).
After that, of course, I was going to install the apps I need, and update the software.
_But the problem appears:_
When I try to open the 'X11.app', the X11 icon begins jumping on the Dock, but nothing happens.
Jumping and jumping... finally, it doesn't jump any more, with just the X11 icon on the dock.
What's more, there is no white dot under the icon, which means the app isn't running at the moment.
I right-clicked the icon, it shows me 'application not responding'.
So, I open the *Activity Monitor*, and I can see there are two apps related to X11 are running:
(1) X11
(2) X11.bin
Please see below for the system log (around 1min. log, starting with the time when I open the X11)
==========
Feb 20 15:56:30 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook 0x0-0x33033.org.x.X1128300: X11.app: main(): argc=2
Feb 20 15:56:30 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook 0x0-0x33033.org.x.X1128300: argv[0] = /Applications/Utilities/X11.app/Contents/MacOS/X11.bin
Feb 20 15:56:30 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook 0x0-0x33033.org.x.X1128300: argv[1] = -psn0208947
Feb 20 15:56:30 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook 0x0-0x33033.org.x.X1128300: Waiting for startup parameters via Mach IPC.
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28308: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28308: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults28334: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28308: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28308
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28308: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28308: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:56:33 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:56:34 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:36 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28441: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28441: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults28467: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28441: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28441
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28441: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28441: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:56:44 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:46 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28574: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28574: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults28602: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28574: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28574
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28574: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28574: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:56:54 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:56:56 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28708: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28708: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults28734: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28708: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28708
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28708: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28708: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:57:04 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:06 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28841: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28841: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults28869: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28841: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28841
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28841: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28841: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:57:14 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:16 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28974: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28974: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults29000: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28974: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.28974
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28974: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx28974: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 15:57:24 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 15:57:25 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 15:57:27 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
==========
It seems that the processes are repeating themselves,
so I decide to end them in the *Activity Monitor*.
For 'X11', I have to force quit.
For 'X11.bin', 'quit' is enough.
But after that, it seems that the processes are stilling running:
==========
Feb 20 16:03:11 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33510: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.33510
Feb 20 16:03:11 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33510: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 288: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
Feb 20 16:03:11 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33510: /usr/X11/bin/startx: eval: line 289: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Feb 20 16:03:11 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook com.apple.launchd.peruser.501135 (org.x.startx): Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds
Feb 20 16:03:11 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 16:03:13 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Done
Feb 20 16:03:21 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33643: font_cache: Scanning user font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 16:03:21 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33643: font_cache: Updating FC cache
Feb 20 16:03:21 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.privileged_startx206: font_cache: Scanning system font directories to generate X11 font caches
Feb 20 16:03:21 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook defaults33669: \nThe domain/default pair of (org.x.X11, dpi) does not exist
Feb 20 16:03:21 (my user name)-(my user name)-MacBook org.x.startx33643: xauth: creating new authority file /Volumes/(my user name)'s Home/Users/(my user name)/.serverauth.33643
==========
As I've said, I have a clone of 10.6.2 on my ext. FireWire HD.
So I've tried to boot the MacBook with the key 'option' pressed in order to boot from the clone.
What surprises me is that I can open the X11 without any problem.
And I've tried to open a new user account to test.
Even if the account isn't 'admin', the X11 can be opened too.
What this phenomenon tells me is that maybe there is an app(s) that I installed will make the X11 not open.
I've Googled the problem and tried the following methods:
(1) Reinstall the X11 from the Snow Leopard disc.
(2) Log in as the 'root' user, go to *System Preferences* to create a temporary account (e.g. named 'test') so that I can delete my current account (e.g. named 'User') (I copied the UUID and pasted it into TextEdit, saving it on my different partition of ext. FireWire HD.). Then I open a new account with the same username (named 'User') and paste the UUID I previously saved to the newly created account (named 'User'), and then redirect the home folder path to the original home folder (the account named 'User' that I deleted).
(3) Create an account for testing (e.g. named 'test'), set it as admin. Then log in as the 'root' user, to use 'ditto' command in Terminal to copy my home folder to the account named 'test'. After that, I make the account for testing (account name 'test') have the permission to read and write the files by pressing 'command + I' the home folder, and then set the user 'test' having the permission to read and write and apply this to all the enclosed folder.
NONE of the above has worked.
So what can I do in order to make my X11.app work again?
Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

etresoft wrote:
But you have it running in the other account. With X11 problems, this is as easy as it gets.
I hope this problem can be solved soon...
Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure you are going to have to use the Terminal.
I see, thanks for the info.! (I am new to the Mac since 2009 )
The only one that would cause any problem by being removed is ".Trash". You don't have any of the other files that Bob is talking about. It would be annoying for any heavy Terminal user to lose those dot files, but perfectly safe.
There is no need to even attempt to backup anything in /tmp.
Thanks for the info.!
Try this. In System Preferences, select Sharing and enable "Remote Login". Login to that Standard user who can run X11 with no problem. Then, just as a test, run "ssh <mainuser>@localhost". Verify that you are in the home directory of the user with the X11 problems. Don't do anything yet. Just type 'exit' to logout.
Reboot your machine. Login as the Standard User. Run "ssh <mainuser>@localhost" again. This time, run the "rm .<somefile>" on all those dot files (except for .Trash and maybe .CFUserEncoding). This time they should all stay deleted. Follow Bob's advice too and do "rm Library/Preferences/org.x.X11.plist". Type "cd /tmp" and delete everything you can find in there. You can't do any damage there. Type "exit" to quit the ssh session.
Now logout of the standard user and log back in to your primary user and try it again.
I am now at the standard account called 'test' and browse this web page using Safari through Wi-Fi.
4 things:
.bash_history
.DS_Store
.fontconfig
.Xauthority
==========
With the '.fontconfig', I can't delete it from the Terminal:
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:~ Michael$ rm .fontconfig+
_+rm: .fontconfig: is a directory+_
(At this moment, I Googled the 'rm' command and found these web pages:
http://ss64.com/osx/
http://newsourcemedia.com/blog/basic-terminal-commands/
That's why I try the 'rmdir' and 'sudo rm'.
But NONE of these command helps)
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:~ Michael$ rmdir .fontconfig+
_+rmdir: .fontconfig: Directory not empty+_
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:~ Michael$ sudo rm .fontconfig+
+WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss+
+or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your+
+typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.+
+To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.+
Password:
+Sorry, try again.+
Password:
_+rm: .fontconfig: is a directory+_
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:~ Michael$ sudo rm .fontconfig+
_+rm: .fontconfig: is a directory+_
=========
For the '/tmp':
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:~ Michael$ cd /tmp+
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:tmp Michael$ cd /+
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:/ Michael$ sudo rm -rf /tmp+
Password:
+Michael-Leungs-MacBook:/ Michael$ +
So, for the steps you provided, I can follow all the steps except the one '.fontconfig'
Hope the information I provided above can help you to help me!
Thank you etresoft!