Normally there are some information messages indicating what part of
the startup cycle the server is in.  This gives you a clue as to where
it's dying.  My guess is that it's a corrupt logfile.  If you have them
mirrored, try renaming the first copy so that the server can't find it,
forcing it to use the second copy.

       /
   /  *  /  Alan Hamilton
  *     *   alanh AT primenet DOT com