Changing Fedora RUN LEVEL 3?
 

Sorry for the simple question but I am looking for the non gui way to change the run level to 3 when the system boots up everytime, not just for once session.

Thanks

change the entry in /etc/inittab

it should say something like

:runleve::5:

change it to a 3 using any editor. vi, pico, nano

So if I want to keep my runlevel at 5 via default but need to shutdown xwindows (GNome) completely, how do I tell Linux to do so?

Hit <ctrl><alt><f1> (or f2,f3,f4 instead) and login as root on the console. Then run 'init 3'. Running 'init 5' will take you back to the x-server.

I select ctl + alt + F3 and then get a terminal login.

I become root and run the command telinit 3 and then it kind of starts running some things and then stops...I have no command prompt to type any commands. I don't think I am doing this right.

You're doing correctly. Just hit enter, or switch to another console (F1,F2 or F4).