Diskless workstations

I'm having trouble logging into Xwindows as a user on a diskless
workstation. I installed RHAS as a workstation and I get an error when
it tries to write the .gconf-XX file at login. 
Root user works fine.
Also logging in at text prompt it can't write the .bash profile with
RHAS.
I created another diskless workstation running Fedora and I have the
same trouble with Xwindow login, root user works fine.
With fedora text login is fine.
I have verified that my /home/user is writable on both operating systems
as a user by creating a text file using vi and saving it in the users
home directory. I'm about to start studying the diskless HOWTO but any
experienced help would be appreciated.
One more thing, I had to generate the home dir by adding a line to
files.custom.