X11 won't start up under 10.6.5

Question

(1) I can't even open a new X11 terminal window.
(2) Launching an application from Terminal that uses X11 gives me the error
dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/X11/lib/libfreetype.6.dylib
Referenced from: /usr/X11/lib/libfontconfig.1.dylib
Reason: Incompatible library version: libfontconfig.1.dylib requires version 13.0.0 or later, but libfreetype.6.dylib provides version 11.0.0
Trace/BPT trap
(3) I installed XQuartz to see if that had a more up-to-date version of freetype but all I got was an error starting up, and in the error report was:
dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/X11/lib/libfreetype.6.dylib
Referenced from: /usr/X11/lib/libfontconfig.1.dylib
Reason: Incompatible library version: libfontconfig.1.dylib requires version 13.0.0 or later, but libfreetype.6.dylib provides version 11.0.0
Trace/BPT trap
So the same error. For some reason either 10.6.5 updated a requirement without updating the provided library, or something...

Answer 1

Bill Scott wrote:
*The "/opt" indicates that you have, either now or at some point, installed Fink. That is 3rd party software and could be the cause of your problems.*
No. That is wrong. Fink typically installs into /sw. Macports and the xquartz.macosforge.org X11 it is optionally associated with install into /opt.
So I confused the two. What's the difference?
Specifically, http://xquartz.macosforge.org/trac/wiki X11 installs into /opt so as to not clobber the official X11 distribution.
That is likely the source of the original poster's problem.
The original poster's problem is solved. It was caused by Fink populating DYLDLIBRARYPATH with its own path. Without that, X11 ran fine. Who would have guessed?
*If X11 still doesn't work, reinstall your OS.*
You can't be serious?
You can't be serious about cherry-picking item #3 out of context from my X11 troubleshooting list, can you?
Yes, I am serious. If
1) Create a new account and try X11 there. If it works in the new account, delete any X11
preference files or .X files in the old account, log out, back in, and try again.
and
2) If that doesn't work, try repairing permissions
don't get X11 running, the machine is seriously hosed.