Well in Linux you have "runlevels" these are different modes that the OS runs in. There are ones that are for single user, shutdown, startup and normal use. This can change between distros, but Redhat-based OSes are pretty similar.
runlevel 5 is the default and that is "multiuser with X login", runlevel 3 is "multiuser without X login"
You can change temporarially to runlevel 3 by going:
telinit 3
To change it perminately you go and edit the /etc/inittab
Now I don't know if this will fix everything for you. Not sure.
There is a log file that is for X, it's located in /var/log/XFree86.log or /var/log/xorg.log (or something similar.) That way you can find what errors it's spitting out and it would make it easier to figure out what is going on.
Lines that are errors begin with EE, lines that are warnings begin with WW. Warnings means that a error happenned, but it's not serious (although it can indicate more serious problems), Errors are show stoppers.
Also between FC3 and Redhat 9 you have some serious upgrades. One major one that may make a difference for you is that they've migrated from XFree86 X server to X.org X server. They are very similar, but X.org uses a different configurations, but will use the XFree86 if that is the only one aviable.
Your probably only have to reconfigure X.
X.org's config file is /etc/X11/xorg.conf
and it's mostly the same, but not quite, as XF86Config.
You can try generating a config with
X -configure
and then follow the directions for trying out the generated config. You'll probably have to shut off the graphical login manager (xdm, kdm, or gdm) by going "telinit 3" first.
Also FedoraForums.org is a nice place to get Fedora-specific help...
Good luck.
