I want to install Nvidia video driver, yet it requires that I exit X and boot into a VGA console. According to nvidia's intallation readme, this is usualy done in inittab, by setting the default run level. However they do not specify what level that is.

my curent default runlevel is

id:2:initdefault:

in the the file is commented out examples such as

Runlevel 0 is Halt
Runlevel 1 is Single User
Runlevel 2-5 is multi-user
Runlevel 6 is reboot


I that all the run levels availible, if so which one would I use?

If not, then what level is it?

Normally (in Mandrake, RedHat, and I think SuSE) runlevel 3 is a console boot and runlevel 5 is a graphical boot. In mandrake though if you want to stop X then switching to a virtual console (CTRL+ALT+F1, CTRL+ALT+F7 to get back) and running "/etc/rc.d/init.d/dm stop" does the trick. Your distribution might use a different script but you shouldn't have to reboot to install a graphics driver.

The easiest way is to hit CTRL+ATL+Backspace. That'll stop the X server and dump you into the terminal. You can start it after you have everything set up by typing "startx".

ctrl+alt+f2

ps aux | grep dm

kill pid

use the pid of the display manager you have. Either xdm, gdm, or kdm

well the run levels are right, different distros use different runlevels as default.

when you start your pc up does it go straight to a gui logon in like KDM (for KDE) or GDM (for Gnome)? or does it take you to a login screen when you type your user name and password and get a command prompt and then type startx to get into a gui?

if the former do this:
1. press ctrl+alt+f2
2. login as root
3. type "killall kdm (or gdm)" without the quotes. this will stop x from running and bring you to the command line
4. press ctrl+alt+f2 again
5. install the nvidia driver, making changes to your xf86config-4 file in /etc/X11
6. when that is done, type kdm or gdm to get your login manager running again and you can login.
if it worked right (the nvidia driver) you should see the nice nvidia logo splash screen before your login manager starts up

if the latter do this:
1. logout of kde or gnome. this should drop you to a command line and x will be shut down
2. type su and give the root password
3. install the nvidia driver, making changes to your xf86config-4 file in /etc/X11
4. type exit to get out of su mode
5. type startx
if it worked right (the nvidia driver) you should see the nice nvidia logo splash screen before your gui loads up

wrong thread. delete this please

Hi, I am using Fedora Core3 and I want to install nVidia drivers too, but when I press ctrl+alt+f2, and type in "killall gdm", because I am using GNome, it says no process killed. is it suppose to be liket that?

maybe you are using xdm instead of gdm?

I got it by using ctrl+alt+F1, and log in to root, then type "telinit 3" to shut down the x-server