CentOS 4.2 [root at srv1 certs]# service mysqld start Timeout error occurred trying to start MySQL Daemon. Starting MySQL: [FAILED] [root at srv1 certs]# rm -fr /var/lib/mysql/* [root at srv1 certs]# service mysqld start Initializing MySQL database: [ OK ] Timeout error occurred trying to start MySQL Daemon. Starting MySQL: [FAILED] I note that I now have some more <defunct> (zombie) chvt processes WTF? Craig