No automatic boot to X and Xauthorization problem

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My installation stopped booting into xwindows.

I have to log into a prompt and then use "startx" to get to the GUI (Gnome).

When I try to start Synaptic and some other programs, I get this message:

failed to run /usr/sbin/synaptic

unable to copy the users Xauthorization file.

I have searched and found references to this problem but not an answer.

I can start Synaptic from a terminal as root.

When I try to shutdown from Gnome, I only have the option to log out, no
shutdown.

Any ideas?

TIA

Also, Is there a searchable archive of this list?

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