can't switch to runlevel 3

wfischer · 11-12-2004, 10:27 PM

Hey Gang. I am using Fedora Core 3 - just installed it. Looks good so far. I've tried to switch to runlevel 3 from X, but I can't do it. I switch to "su" in the console and then type "init 3"

The screen goes black. I hit enter a few times and I see a few lines of text, the last one being "starting anacron"

And that's it, just black screen and no login prompt.

I've never had this problem before. Any ideas? Thanks.

rakriege · 11-12-2004, 10:47 PM

do you want to boot to run level 3 always, if so edit your /etcX11Xf86Config file, or your .bash_profile, change init 5 to init 3. If not you can always use th terminal in the GUI.

rakriege · 11-12-2004, 10:51 PM

I'm currently upgrading FC2 toFC3 so...if this doesn't help you,I will look @ it once my upgrade it complete for any errors I may Have and possible solutions.

perfect_circle · 11-13-2004, 01:04 AM

you are in Alt+Ctrl+F7 screen.
doing init 3 will kill this screen (your X windows)

and you will see a black screen.

the text - mode screens Ctrl+Alt+F1
....................
....................
Ctrl+Alt+F6
will work properly.

if you just want a text - mode screen just do Ctrl+Alt+F1. (no need to go to init 3)
if you want only the texmode (to upload X-windows, to install a driver or something) do init 3 in a console as root
and then press Ctrl+Alt+F1,
or press Ctrl+Alt+F1, login as root and then do init 3.

wfischer · 11-13-2004, 07:43 AM

Perfect Circle,

Thank you for the clarification. It works as you suggested. And you guessed correctly - I did want access to runlevel 3 in order to configure x etc.

I was confused because with the other distros I've used, it is not necessary to use the ctrl alt f1 combo. I used to just hit init 3 and I was at the prompt.

Again - many thanks for the assistance.

reddazz · 11-13-2004, 08:35 AM

just typing "init 3" as root whilst in X used to work in Redhat/Fedora until this release.

amfoster · 11-13-2004, 02:48 PM

The runlevel the machine boots into is decalred in the /etc/inittab file. It is the line that reads initdefault:3 (or something like that.)
I dont' understand how making a change in the X config file would have anything to do with the machine starting up in run level 3.