CentOs init 3 unusable, constant stream of text

pinkyzbrain · 06-03-2013, 03:54 PM

I am currently running the CentOs distro and I had to install graphics drivers for my NVidia card. Somewhere throughout the installation process I managed to modify a file that caused run-level 3 to constantly return system information. It has gotten to the point where I cannot enter shell commands. I managed to restore the default boot level to 5 but anytime I switch to run-level 3 the same problem occurs. Specifically it returns a USB error that keeps reprinting to the screen so that I cannot enter any text. I forgot which file I modified and cannot find it (been searching for possibilities on Google for days). Furthermore I'm not even 100% sure this is the problem since I DID manage to get the drivers installed successfully. Any ideas on how I can make init 3 usable again?

unSpawn · 06-04-2013, 01:20 AM

Code:

# Verify installation:
rpm -Vva 2>&1|grep -v "^\.\{8\}" > /tmp/rpmvva.log
# and check hash mismatches first:
grep "^\.\{2\}5" /tmp/rpmvva.log
# see 'man rpm', section "verify options" for more.

pinkyzbrain · 06-04-2013, 09:28 PM

I tried running both, the first timed out and the second returned nothing. Am I doing something wrong?

unSpawn · 06-05-2013, 03:35 PM

No idea. you could just

Code:

rpm -Vva

and see if it shows any output at all.

pinkyzbrain · 06-19-2013, 04:07 PM

Hi, Sorry for the delay, but I've been out. I do get output when using rpm -Vva, but when I grep the log file for those Strings I get no output.

John VV · 06-19-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

I forgot which file I modified

did you use gedit to modify it ?
if so then it automatically made a back up file ( same name but with a " ~ " after the name

it should be easy to find

also HOW did you install the nvidia driver ?
and what driver ?
the nvidia.run from the nvidia web site ?
or the kmod-nvidia in the cent repo
as in did you do this

Code:

su -
yum install kmod-nvidia

or this
download the .run
blacklist or REMOVE the nouveau driver
boot into int3
( adding a blank space and a "3" on the boot line DURING BOOT )
( hit "e" use the down arrow ,hit "e" add the 3 hit "b" )

install the kernel source and headers and gcc

Code:

su -
yum groupinstall "Development tools"
yum install kernel-devel kernel-headers

( !!! rebuild the boot image using "dracut" !!! )

run the *.run

Code:

sh   NVIDIA*.run

reboot into int5

pinkyzbrain · 06-20-2013, 08:26 AM

I'm pretty sure I used VI to edit the file but just in case I am looking in that directory for a file with a ~ after the name. I actually used the second method but I don't remember using dracut. In order to boot to init 5 after the video-driver install I had to go through grub, since init 3 was splashing text the whole time. I used the nvidia.run from their wesite and it is the current driver for the GTX 560M card for Linux 64 bit. (the Linux x64 display driver)

John VV · 06-20-2013, 01:39 PM

using the nvidia .run driver now REQUIRES a lot of work
you have to remove the nouveau driver from the boot image
have the kernel source installed
have gcc and auto tools installed

there is a lot more work needed , and you will have to manually reinstall it for EVERY xorg and kernel update

using the kmod that is in the repos is the preferred

the BEST way to have it boot into text only ( int3) is to do so from the boot menu
you edit it during the 3 sec. countdown

if you did NOT uninstall or blacklist the nouveau driver THEN rebuild the boot image , then you are not using the nvidia.run driver
but the default installed "nouveau" driver