I just installed Fedora core 2 and I LOVE it. I am getting ready to install nvidia drivers and I would like to know If I need to do anything besides what is in the readme. When I had Mandrake I could never get it to work.

you have the most current drivers correct? Otherwise just do what's in the readme. I when editing the X config file I usually just comment out the old stuff so it's easier to revert if something goes wrong :-)

tanks i tried to use init 3 and it did not work. How do i shut down x?

which part didn't work? going into init 3 or startx ?

ctrl alt and backspace or F2-F6

To boot up without x:
1) go to a command console
2) log in as a super user : su
3) cd /etc
4) emacs inittab
5) Look for the line:

id:5:initdefault:

change the 5 to a 3 and save the file.

6) Reboot your computer and your computer will start without X.

7) follow the directions on the NVIDIA readme file.
8) After you follow the directions on the readme file,

edit the inittab file again and change the 3 back to a 5 and reboot the computer.

If you're lucky enough to get the NVIDIA drivers working, you should be okay. But I've heard a number of people are having problems with the NVIDIA driver and fedora core 2. (conflicts with the rivafb package).

Hope this helps!

yongsa

Ok I got it thanks alot.

Two points.

First, make sure that you are superuser ( at the command line type su - and provide it with your root password ) then you can type init 3. It won't work as a regular user.

Second, you can enter run level 3 from grub. Boot the computer, when grub comes up type e to edit it. Then space down to the line that begins ... kernel and again type e to edit that line. At the end of that line type a space and 3. Type enter and it goes back up a level and then hit the b to boot. This method does not require the editing of any other files and it will work only for this boot, it did not edit grub.conf or anything else. The drawback is that if you are dealing with something that requires multiple reboots you still have to make the entries for each boot.

How about <ctrl><alt> F2 and doing what you have to do and then rebooting?

No need to reboot! As root, just type 'telinit 3'. this will drop you down to runlevel 3 ( X will shutdown). Now work your nvidia compiling voodoo, and when you are done, just type 'telinit 5'. Then enjoy your snazzy new display!