x startup

exigent · 09-24-2003, 08:06 PM

hi, i'm using a debian based linux system, and x won't startup. it worked before, but i changed the resolution to one that is not supported by my monitor. so when the computer boots up, it starts up x automatically, with only a blank screen. is there some why to stop x from starting automatically? the problem is that i don't have a command line at any point during the start up, so i can't edit anything. what can i do?

peace · 09-24-2003, 08:15 PM

Hi,

There is certainly a way to stop X from starting automatically. Pop in a bootdisk (I am not a Debian user, but I'd think the first CD will work too) and that will take you to the command line. To get into command line on startup in the future, edit the /etc/inittab file.

trickykid · 09-24-2003, 08:23 PM

No need to boot to a floppy or cdrom, after booting up to a blank screen that's suppose to be X, just press ctrl-alt-F2 and this will take you to a console login. Just login, edit your XF86Config accordingly and then reboot.

You can also just reboot to runlevel 3 by issuing the command: init 3

And yes, if you don't want to continue to boot to X, just change your runlevel in your /etc/inittab file.

But really, no need to boot from a disk to get to a command line to edit.

exigent · 09-24-2003, 08:57 PM

hmm well it seems my computer isn't accepting commands once it gets to the black screen. ctrl-alt-f2 isn't doing anything.