How To Shut Down X-Windows, and KDE Root Question
 

I am using Mandriva 2006.....

I am trying to install an updated Nvidia driver and the installation program tells me I must totally shut down X-Windows before continuing. I logged out, entered in "failsafe" mode, and it still says X is loaded. I have tried the ctrl-alt-F1 commands and it still says X is running. HOW do I accomplish something as simple as shutting X down so I can boot without it running, and boot directly into a terminal?

One other dumb newbie question is: how do I access locked files in konqueror file viewer/manager? I need to edit a couple of files in a certain folder (to configure shorewall), but the file has a lock on it and denies me permission as a regular user. I realize I need to be root, but Konqueror does not prompt me for a password to log in as root. I have read online that people say to "right-click" and go to "actions", but there is no such menu when I right-click. I don't seem to be able to edit the file from the console (or can I?), so I need to find out how to run KDE as root, without having to BOOT in as root. Is there a way to access those "locked" folders and force KDE to prompt me for my root password, and without having to boot in as root?

You would be surprised how many tutorials leave out such simple issues as these.

Thanks in advance.

Closing X:
*press Ctrl-Alt-F3
*log in as root
*type init 3 and press enter.

Changing permissions:
chmod +x path_to_your_file.

Thanks, it's working well.

If you use kdm logout then select "text login" as root and type startkde.
Or in "run command" type "kdesu konqueror" to use konqueror as root.