FAQ for X: /usr/share/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ

Error Log: /var/log/XFree86.0.log

Installing x11 now. I aptituded the core x11 file, ran xinit and came
down to this error message:
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/input/mice
No such device.
(EE) Configured Mouse: cannot open input device
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Configured Mouse"
(II) UnloadModule: "mouse"
(WW) No core pointer registered
No core pointer
I checked the FAQ to see what was happening with that. Here's what it
said.
It's easy enough to determine whether errors opening /dev/input/mice
are really the cause of a failing X server. As root, run the
following
command:
X -allowMouseOpenFail
Didn't do much at all. The screen went all greyish like it was on the
wrong refresh rate setting. I might have to look into my monitor's
refresh rate which will be a pain in the ass. Thing's a spray painted
800x600 max which I found on the side of the road. Doh.

I've been needing to write this log forever. I finally found it. Here's
compiling from the source.

First step is to unzip the file. One of the easiest ways to do this is
with gzip. For the rest, it's a breeze.

unzip the sourcefile.tar.gz.whatever
cd sourcefile
./configure
make
make test (optional)
make install

The ./configure scans your computer to make sure it has everything it
needs to install. It will give you a fatal error and tell you what it's
missing if you don't.