[SOLVED] Can't boot Ubuntu to command line

fiascosf · 08-08-2010, 11:39 PM

I'm new to Linux. Just installed Ubuntu 10.04 LTS as a VM on MAC OSX. I want to auto boot to the command line, but the GUI keeps coming up. I ran "sudo update-rc.d -f gdm remove", but it didn't work. Please help.

paulsm4 · 08-09-2010, 12:13 AM

Hi -

1. Boot to the GUI

2. Log in

3. Use "sudo vi" to create this one-line "/etc/inittab" file:

Quote:

sudo vi /etc/inittab

Code:

:id:3:initdefault:

4. Reboot ("sudo reboot -i" will work fine

)

5. Voila! You should now boot to text-mode (runlevel 3) instead of GUI mode (runlevel 5).

Here is more info on the "new" Ubuntu "upstart":

http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/125977

And more alternatives, if you wish:

http://serverfault.com/questions/147...f-ubuntu-lucid

'Hope that helps .. PSM

sem007 · 08-09-2010, 03:18 AM

You can also change grub option.

open the /etc/default/grub file, locate the following line:

Code:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

and change it to:

Code:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash text"

and don’t forget to run ‘update-grub’

r3sistance · 08-09-2010, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsm4

5. Voila! You should now boot to text-mode (runlevel 3) instead of GUI mode (runlevel 5).

I thought Debian and Ubuntu used Run-level 2 for GUI?

bsat · 08-10-2010, 09:30 AM

guess r3sistance is right, by default there is no /etc/inittab file in ubutnu 10.04 ( haven't checked with the previous version) the run level is set by the file /etc/init/rc-sysinit.conf. in which the default runlevel is set to 2, so the GUI runlevel in ubuntu is actually 2.

We can modify this by setting the required level in the line

Quote:

env RUNLEVEL=

Or by passing the runlevel as an argument during the boot i.e,

Quote:

press esc while grub is loading.
press "e" when the cursor is on the version of linux you are booting
move to the line that starts with kernel
press e
add 3 to the end of this line
press b.

or by running the command

Quote:

init 3.

this might be useful

http://upstart.ubuntu.com/

babunix · 08-10-2010, 10:05 AM

Another way is disabling login manager at boot time.

Code:

#update-rc.d -f gdm remove

You have to run startx command for graphics.

Method suggested by sem007 is also work fine.
I learn another way to start ubuntu in text mode.

fiascosf · 08-10-2010, 10:22 PM

Thanks to all who responded...sem007's suggestion worked...I'd send a 'thanks' but don't have a button!

sem007 · 08-11-2010, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiascosf

I'd send a 'thanks' but don't have a button!

You can see thanks button at right bottom side of every post.you won't see it on your own posts.

r3sistance · 08-11-2010, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsat

guess r3sistance is right, by default there is no /etc/inittab file in ubutnu 10.04 ( haven't checked with the previous version) the run level is set by the file /etc/init/rc-sysinit.conf.

If I had to take a guess, that's probably something related to grub 2 which Ubuntu started using at version 9.10. But that is just a guess. 9.04 might use the older method of /etc/inittab