Looks like a neat program suite; I didn't even know it existed until
your posting.

How did you install it?

Checking a moment ago using Synaptic shows the repository version is
from November 2007 whereas the SourceForge (and author's home page)
versions are August 25, 2008.

The documentation package (from SourceForge) is 28MB compressed.

I just started a build.

I have an administrator account and everyday use account. First I was using
the everyday account when it failed to load. Installed it in the admin
account and now, for what its worth, it works now in both accounts.

Have you tried to start KiCad from a terminal?

I have used KiCad in ubuntu 8.04 and 8.10 without problems, it is
installed using Synaptic. I know it's not the latest version, but it
works very well.

There is another layout tool in Synaptic called Eagle Light Edition, I
haven't tried it because of some limitations to the board size, 100 x 80 mm.

Oh, btw. if you need a circuit simulator there's one called Qucs in
Synaptic.

It also loads to Mandriva via the
applications, install and remove menus. After searching for kicad,
checking the three boxes and clicking apply, it downloads and
installs to Applications, Sciences, Other without user intervention.
The process looks just like it does under Ubuntu, except the raw
downloads are rpm format instead of gz.

Both Ubuntu and Mandriva also have
no-brainer Qucs installs. Often I just import Tubepad symbols into
Gimp.

http://www.qsl.net/wd4nka/TEXTS/Tubepadf.html

A great thing about Linux is the
tremendous supply of science and technology applications.

kicad is nice to use but all pcb programs have some
learning curve :)
if you install vmware player, you can run FreePcb (a
windows application) its easy to make single and
multiple layer pcb boards.... and for simulation you
can use LtSpice (very good support forum)
If you want only linux applications then another
option is GEDA
simply google for it..