Two threads merged. The discussion is much easier to follow when it's in one place.

Don't type /etc//....as password. Log in (user: root, as password type root password), then you should get command line and can edit the file. try one of the following commands (different editors, you probably have one or two):
pico /etc/X11/XF86Config
joe /etc/X11/XF86Config
vim /etc/X11/XF86Config

OK, thanks for fusing the two together, it is a bit easier. And thanks for the advice, let me boot out of Win and try it out.

Still ... won't... work ... ::rips hair out::

I'm just fighting with the login screen now. I know what my root pw is but I never knew that there was a root username... If I enter text in the "login" and press enter it will come down and ask me for a password .. yet when I try to type something for a password it's invisible text. It won't type at all for the pw, *probably* until I get the login correct.

*And whatever I type seemingly is incorrect. If I only I was able to get past that login screen I could edit my screen res!

It doesn't show what you type, when it's receiving it. Type the root password correctly and press enter and you'll get in.

So.. the "root username" for the login and the "root password" for the password?

I've never ever heard of the Root username but meh, I dunno. I have three, one is the main Root password to get into files and stuff, and the other two are to login when Redhat is about to boot into my desktop screen..

It still will not work. With those three that I have I tried all sorts of combinations. When I installed Redhat it told me I had a Root password. That's the only time it mentioned Root. The other two are Admin passwords to get into the desktop.

Your "root username" is "root". Type that and hit "enter"
When you enter the password, it will NOT echo the characters back to the screen. This is for security against "shoulder surfers". Just blindly enter the root password and then hit "enter"

::screams profanities::

Oh well, it was fixed with a fresh re-install, but if I had been patient I probably could have fixed it. Oh well, thank you for giving me helpful advice though. If you wouldn't mind I'm having quite a tough time indicated in my latest post I do kind of need help out on that.. Thanks again!

// never mind, I've missed the second page

This might seem way off the mark, but it sounds like you don't know your root password?

You'll need to change your root password. This is done by booting your pc to single user mode. Google on how to do this.
Then when in single user mode type

passwd root

you will then be prompted on what to do. Then reboot by typing

reboot

Then CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to your text login when your pc has rebooted, login with username root and now put your new password that you inputted from above.
All being well you should be logged in as root.
NOw type redhat-config-xfree86 this command will probe your hardware, backup your existing config file, and write a new config file. Its easier than editing the original file.
When this is finished type telinit 5 and you should now get a graphical log in.
Log in as root again and you can fine tune your display. Its under system settings->display

I too have same problem.very recently I changed the display properties like resolution ..etc found in the menu.Now when I log in the system boots up and then the screen goes blank and I even cant get the problem since nothing is shown. Any help in this regard will be appreciable.

Can you get to a console? (e.g. <ctrl><alt><F1>). If so, login as root, look for a directory /etc/X.... and fix the config that you can find in that directory. Not sure what the name of the config will be as RH7.2 is quite old, probably something like X86R...
You can also check the log files in /var/log to see what goes wrong; there should be log files starting with X.
If you need more assistance, please post sections device, monitor and screen from your config and tell us your hardware (videocard and monitor).

// didn't see the second page :-)

reinstalled ? :-)

updatedb