Hello,

Can anyone help me please?
How can I stop an X server from loading up so i can install an Nvidia graphics driver and then how do i ge tthe X server to run again.

Also what is the command to edit text files, like in Windows its EDIT, what is the Linux name.

Im running FC4 test 2

Thanks in advance
Graham

You will need to edit your inittab file: /etc/inittab.

What you have to do is open up the file and change the line that looks like init:5:default. Comment out that line by placing a # at the beginning of it, or just change the 5 to a 3. This tells your computer to boot to a command prompt. Do your nVidia stuff (you may need to query this forum for help on that too...plenty of info), and then change your /etc/inittab file back so that it says '5' again. Reboot and you'll be back up with X. You'll know if all went well - you'll see the nVidia logo show up on the screen shortly before X starts up (or just after? I can't remember).

Hope that helps.

You don't need to edit /etc/inittab, if you all you want to do is install the Nvidia drivers. Simply hit <ctrl><alt><f2> (or f3, f4) and login as root and run 'init 3'.
Once all the messages stop, just hit enter and do whatever you need to in the console mode. Install the driver, etc.

Once done run 'init 5'. No reboots are needed.

There are different editors depending what you are doing. If you are using console you can try 'nano', 'vim' or 'emacs'. If you are in gui there are many more. Try 'gedit', 'kate', 'nedit', or any text editor you see in the menu. All should work.

Thanks very much for your help!

FWIW, you can also just add a 3 to the end of your grub options when booting.