Ubuntu – Can’t run “X -configure”, “Server is already active” error

xorg

in order to fix a problem with the setup of the screen brightness I try to create a xorg.conf

This is done by the command X -configure right?

Trying to run this command as root, I will get:

Fatal server error:
Server is already active for display 0
    If this server is no longer running, remove /tmp/.X0-lock
    and start again.

Trying to run this command in recovery modus, I will get the same. After remove the mentioned file I get the error: cannot create file /tmp/.X0-lock
Just to make sure: Yep I have the rights as I am logged in as root.

Best Answer

I think you shall have to stop the xserver first. Try this:

  1. Open a Terminal with CTRL+ALT+F1 and login
  2. sudo stop lightdm (or kdm or gdm instead of lightdm if you installed kubuntu or GNOME shell)
  3. sudo Xorg -configure
  4. sudo start lightdm (or kdm or gdm instead of lightdm if you installed kubuntu or GNOME shell)
Related Question