Matthieu Herrb(matthieu.herrb@laas.fr) said 2004.06.01 21:06:46 +0000:
> >Would anyone know any possible causes or perhaps fixes (other than better
> >hardware)?
> 
> Are you running xdm ?

No xdm is involved, whether I run `startx' or `xinit' does not seem to
matter.

> Is there a VT without a getty process attached for X in your /etc/ttys?

X seems to be on the fifth tty. 
Local ttys in /etc/ttys on applicable machine:
console "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt100   on secure
ttyE0   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt220   off secure
ttyE1   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt220   on secure
ttyE2   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt220   on secure
ttyE3   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt220   on secure
ttyE4   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         vt220   off secure
tty00   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off local
tty01   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty02   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty03   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty04   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty05   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty06   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
tty07   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure