Error message "Can't open display"

"Bill Mishefske" <[email protected]> Sat, 7 Dec 2002 15:27:40 -0800
Newsgroups gmane.comp.xfree86.newbie
Message-ID <000701c29e48$3d5e0140$4182cfa9@compaq-computer>
Am I getting above message because my monitor ( Compag mv500) is not configured properly?? I have reconfigured several time with xconfigurator, I get the xdisplay which turns to blue-green but when I try to do something with the screen I get this error message. Help!

Bill