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Old 07-14-2004, 10:17 AM   #1
KennieNL
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Registered: Jul 2004
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Root


Heya

I just installed Linux (Mandrake 10.0) and i wanna update my videocard but i got now the problem that i must be login as root but how i do that with a desktop if i logout i see only my profile?

Maybe a dumb quesion but im a n00bie

Tnx Kennie
 
Old 07-14-2004, 10:24 AM   #2
Technoslave
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Is there a place to type in the username? You could also change your terminal to a CLI interface. Or log back in via the GUI and do an su - to root. There's also sudo, but you'll need to be root first in order to visudo to put yourself in there.
 
Old 07-14-2004, 10:25 AM   #3
KennieNL
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well i have then more a login window with my name and wich desktop i wanna choose but more not :S and that second i dont understand lol <------ me n00by
 
Old 07-14-2004, 11:37 AM   #4
psiakr3w
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It depends on what video card you're upgrading and how you're going to do it (RPMs or source). If you could tell us that info, we could probably help you out a little better.

If, for instance, you want to upgrade a GeForce card using source, then you can't be running X. The way to login without running X is to change your default run-level. Here's how you do that:
-when in KDE or gnome or whatever, open up a terminal and type in 'su', which will ask you for your root password, then you can edit the file '/etc/inittab' with your favorite editor
-in the file you'll find a line that looks something like id:runlevel:actionrocess -- it'll probably be the first line after all the comments and runlevel will be 5; change it to 3 and then reboot
-now you'll be able to do a non-graphical login and X will not start up automatically, meaning that you can login in as root and update your driver and your X config file
-once you've successfully installed the driver, you can then change the runlevel in '/etc/inittab' back to 5 and restart.
 
Old 07-14-2004, 12:07 PM   #5
zz9pluralzalpha
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On the screen where you type in your user name and choose your desktop, is there an option (possibly in a menu) for something like "console login"?

If there is, that should get you to a text console where you can log in as root by typing root as your username, and then the password. Then you can install your video card driver.

You can get the graphical desktop (X windows) back by typing startx at the prompt, or by rebooting.

--
Mike
 
Old 07-15-2004, 06:37 AM   #6
KennieNL
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Quote:
Originally posted by zz9pluralzalpha
On the screen where you type in your user name and choose your desktop, is there an option (possibly in a menu) for something like "console login"?

If there is, that should get you to a text console where you can log in as root by typing root as your username, and then the password. Then you can install your video card driver.

You can get the graphical desktop (X windows) back by typing startx at the prompt, or by rebooting.

--
Mike
no nothin of console

and that post before i dont understand much and the driver is a .run and if i enter it then he says i need to logged in as root
 
Old 07-15-2004, 07:27 AM   #7
XavierP
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Open a console.
Type in su and hit enter
Type in the root password and hit enter
To the left of your blinking cursor, you will see that where before there was a '$' there is now a '#'. Any commands you now use in that console will be issued as if you were logged in as root.

You need to not be running X to install the driver. Assuming that you have an Nvidia card, follow the instructions here: ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Li...106/README.txt

Sec02 states that you should exit X and set your runlevel to not be graphical.

In the console (as root), open your favourite text editor. Since you are used to using X, I would say open kwrite. So type that in and hit enter.

When it opens, navigate to /etc/inittab - file-->open.... Near the top you will see the runlevel you are using and an explanation of the various runlevels. Change the number you are using to the number for no X. Save the file.

Hit ctrl-alt-Fn (where n is a number of one of your function keys at the top of the keyboard) - I use F7, it may vary on your system. You will then find that you are in a text only system. With a login prompt. Login as root.

Navigate to the place you have saved your .run file (cd /wherever/it/is) and run the file.

It may complain about a lack of source files for the kernel. If so, use Urpmi to install them (this will work in the text only area you are in) and continue with the driver install.
 
Old 07-15-2004, 09:18 AM   #8
KennieNL
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Tnx that worked but is there a way to change boot? now i have on bootscreen
linux
linux-nofb
.......
windows
floppy

and i wanna windows as no1 can that be changed? tnx for all your help
 
Old 07-15-2004, 09:42 AM   #9
XavierP
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Open up your lilo.conf file (as root, as per above). It will probably say something like "default=linux" or "linux=default". Remove the default bit and insert it against the entry for Windows. Save the file.

Then run /sbin/lilo in a console, still as root. You must run this or the changes won't be set.
 
  


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