> If I try to Log on to the X windows login screen, I just get a few messages
> in the console box, and then I get dumped back at the login.

There may be some clues in ~/.xsession-errors

> I think I may need to create an .x<something> script in my home
> directory, but I am not sure, and I don't know what to put in it. I
> would guess that it needs a command to start a window manager, and
> an xterm or other window to be getting on with.

Maybe a .xsmstartup with eg.

[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb -merge $HOME/.Xresources
twm
smproxy
xterm -n `hostname -s` -T `hostname -s`

in it ?

> Also, what are the files .xsm<number>ab (There are 7 different 5 digit
> numbers in the range 00220 to 00259) and also what is xsm.core? Can I
> delete them?

I think so.

Good luck,

 Patrick