I have Fedora Core 4, and am trying to install Nvidia drivers. I read previous threads on shutting down the X server to do this, but nothing in them helped, although I wasn't sure if I did it right. If anyone could help me I would appreciate it so much! Here is what I tried:

- I tried going down to run level 3 by typing init 3, but the computer freezes
- I tried starting up in Failsafe mode, but it still just says that the X server is running when I try to install driver
- I tried pressing ctrl + alt + backspace but it doesn't shut down the X server, only takes me back to the login manager
- I heard something somewhere about running a "etc/init.d/gdm stop" or "etc/init.d/*dm stop" but I don't appear to have any files of this nature, except "gdm-allow-login" and "gdm-early-login". Also I have a file called gpm. I don't, however, know how to do such a "stop" if it is one of those files.
- Also, just for the heck of it, I did an interactive startup and prevented it from actually starting the x server (I believe, the process started with an "x" anyway, and it came up with some message that it couldn't start the x server, but then it wouldn't allow me to type anything and the screen kept flashing black until finally it said it was going to restart or something).

If anyone can help me, I thank you greatly for your assisance in advance. You are very kind!

Both of those should have worked. That is strange...

Yeah, gdm will just restart if you kill X. Some systems generalize your display manager as "xdm" in your initscripts, because it doesn't know if you are using xdm, gdm, or kdm. Do you have a script called "xdm" in /etc/init.d?

Also, I don't know about Fedora, but some systems have their initscripts in /etc/rc.d/ instead of /etc/init.d/.

I'm right there with 'ya. Installed Debian on an ancient Tandy 4825SX (upgraded proc @ 100mhz, 20MB RAM, and CD-ROM - which I can't boot from, 2GB HD, and no NIC). Had all kinds of crap setting up the display, then the mouse, and finally(!) something GUI this way comes. But-- (there's always a 'but') my screen is FUBAR. Only the bottom half of the screen is visible and the resolution is so low I can't see a scrollbar or menu commands or move a window. And I can't exit out! I log out and get a login screen. Then I try Alt+F2 or CTRL+Alt+Backspace and Xwindows shuts down... and then immediately restarts, putting me on a loop. How do I get out of Xwindows??? Me and trentr are trapped in here! Save us!

Since you're using Fedora, I'd recommend not worrying about shutting down X. You can get to a non-X environment in another virtual terminal, e.g., ctrl-alt-F1 (short wait), and log in there, do your install and proceed.

To restart X log out and in in virtual terminal 7 (c/aF7). If you have a bad setup, click through the complaints (checking logs as desired) until it shuts X down for you. Take another wack at the mods and reboot.

My 2 cents.

Well, it's odd that the computer froze with "init 3", probably didn't freeze really, just left you at a terminal you couldn't interact with. You could try "init 3" then after X is shut down type "Ctrl-Alt-F2" to get to another terminal... then install the nvidia driver. Option two: force it to boot up in text mode at runlevel 3; Reboot then at the Grub boot screen, press the SpaceBar or any key to interupt the boot, then an "e" key to edit. Down-arrow to the "kernel" line and type "e" again, and add " vga=normal init 3" to the end of the line. Hit the "Enter" key to save the change, then "b" to boot. You should end up at a text mode login, no Xserver running and can install your driver...

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