This question must be so basic and dumb that no one else has asked it, because I can't seem to find my answer through google, or fedora's help centre.

I'm trying to update my NVIDIA driver, because my screen resolution on my laptop only goes up to 800x600, which makes it feel like a NERF Toy. But when I try to run the install through a terminal it says I can't do this in an x-window.

Sadly, I don't know how to get out of this x-window. I tried logging into failsafe console, no joy. Terminal is also not working.

How do I get to the command line?

Many thanks,

S.

Switch to root in a console and do "init 3" and to switch back to gui mode do "init 5". I am suprised you didn't find a solution because this is one of those questions thats asked almost everyday.

Try {Ctrl}{Alt}{Backspace}

If that doesn't work, {Ctrl}{Alt}{F1}

I don't think the 2nd option actually stops X, so when you're done working there ... shutdown -r now ... to reboot.

Edit:

redazz's answer is better than mine.

Simplest is to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf to specify the nVida driver (which you'll need to do anyhow), and reboot. Then X, not having the driver installed, will fail to start (don't let X "fix" the problem, of course), and you'll be dumped into a terminal session. Install the driver, and reboot.

Next simplest is to use the GRUB "edit" option to add a number 3 at the end of the first line in the boot screen. That will force a boot into runlevel 3. (Edit: The GRUB edit is a "one time" edit, not saved in grub.conf)

Failing that, try a Ctl-Alt-F1, log in as root, and do a init 3.

I appreciate the help...here's what's happening:

I learned that simply typing su in terminal is not the same as logging in as root. So, I logged in as root, opened up a terminal, typed "init 3" and something did happen. A black screen opened up, told me it did three things and gave itself three oks, then nothing. Couldn't type, couldn't do a thing. Did it freeze? Maybe. I'm not sure. CTRL ALT DELETE couldn't save me, I had to do a hard reboot by holding down the power button.

I then tried hitting CTRL ALT Backspace and the result was less promising. A blackscreen popped up that I could type into, but nothing really happened. LS, man, exit...it was like I was typing into a black wordpad. Had to CTRL ALT DELETE to get out of there.

I'm going to try a few other of your suggestions now, I just wanted to let you know what happened. I'm pretty confident your techniques should have worked, so if you have any idea of what my mistake was I'd really like to know!

Cheers,

S.

PS. (EDIT)

At the login screen I hit CTRL ALT F1, logged in as root, and tried running NVIDIA install program (it's a run package). It said that I was running an xserver, or xterm. In other words, I must not have been at the command line or completely out of x. I'm going to try the grub edit suggested above and hope I can get back into GNOME after this is done.

Was it a 'login' screen?

No, it wasn't a login screen. There was literally nothing on the screen except what I typed.

I also just wanted to add that I followed one of your steps out incorrectly. I did it right this time, at the GNOME login screen I CTRL + ALT + F1, login as root, switched to init 3, but once again, it freezes after I init 3. I left it running for about 4 minutes just to see if it was thinking, no joy. CTRL ALT DELETE required to get back here.

It really shouldn't be this challenging right? I mean, I'm doing something wrong, right? heheh. Gonna go try the grub level 3 thing. (EDIT): Never mind. I can't find where to edit GRUB. I'll try to figure out how to change the SMTP port in evolution while awaiting your assistance.

Cheers,

S.

I disabled a bunch of services at the init 3 level, stuff like bluetooth (since i don't have it), and others that other forums suggested may lead to hanging.

It may have helped or not, I'm not sure. After it shut down the services and gave me ok's it left me where I had thought it was frozen. This time I pressed CTRL ALT F1 again, and everything kind of shifted, like it resized itself. Then I hit enter and I got a prompt, where, after trying to install I was promptly told I don't have the required development libraries. But it worked. And that's whats important.

Thanks for all your assistance.

Best,

S.