phpmyadmin refuses to function

[w2aiq]

when trying to access phpmyadmin i get this:
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phpMyAdmin - Error

Cannot start session without errors, please check errors given in your PHP and/or webserver log file and configure your PHP installation properly. Also ensure that cookies are enabled in your browser.
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im on ubuntu, I ama ble to access everything else, everything else seems to be functioning.... any ideas? I am a little inept using this OS although I installed on windows machine a got up and running easily