Preventing X from starting automatically

DeadlySin3 · 04-10-2005, 09:42 AM

I am wondering how to prevent X-windows from starting up when I boot my system. I'm running Debian Sarge with gnome, if that makes a difference.

I've read that editing the /etc/inittab file and changing the run level (which by default was 2 for me, not 3) to 3 would prevent x from starting automatically. I logged out of X and back in, still had X starting automatically.

Also, i've read that renaming the /etc/rc2.d/S99xdm symlink (might be kdm or gdm or some other alternative as well) should do the trick, though it didn't.

When I first installed the x window system, X wouldn't start automatically, I had to type "startx" at the prompt in order to get it going and I would prefer to have it that way again.

Anyone have a tip or two on how this can be done?

Thanks,

-Paul

masonm · 04-10-2005, 11:48 AM

The inittab edit should do the trick. Did you reboot after doing the edit?

DeadlySin3 · 04-10-2005, 08:52 PM

Yes, after I edited the inittab - I rebooted my machine and much to my dismay, xdm was the very last thing to load.

masonm · 04-10-2005, 09:25 PM

Runlevel 3 is supposedd to be the console log in. You may want to open the /etc/init.d/rc.4 file in an editor and take a look at just what it's scripting looks like. You may have to comment out some line calling up the X server that shouldn't be there.

DeadlySin3 · 04-10-2005, 11:09 PM

I appreciate your time and help with this matter.

I've read and re-read that the run level in the /etc/inittab file is what's supposed to control whether you manually start x or have it automatically start for you.

I'm very confused as i've gone through the steps on the debian.org website in the how-to's section regarding the x window system and still I cannot stop X from starting up automatically.

I've opened up /etc/init.d/rc.4 using JOE as root and JOE created a new file, telling me that /etc/init.d/rc.4 doesn't exist. So i'm a bit lost as to what the problem could be.

Here is the first few lines in my /etc/inittab file

Code:

# /etc/inittab: init(8) configuration.
# $Id: inittab,v 1.91 2002/01/25 13:35:21 miquels Exp $

# The default runlevel.
id:3:initdefault:

# Boot-time system configuration/initialization script.
# This is run first except when booting in emergency (-b) mode.
si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS

# What to do in single-user mode.
~~:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin

# /etc/init.d executes the S and K scripts upon change
# of runlevel.
#
# Runlevel 0 is halt.
# Runlevel 1 is single-user.
# Runlevels 2-5 are multi-user.
# Runlevel 6 is reboot.

Aside from that, after rebooting and having X still fire up, I took the liberty to again rename this symlink: /etc/rc2.d/S99xdm

Now it's called /etc/rc2.d/not.S99xdm

which hides the symlink for some reason. I rebooted after that and again, X was the last thing to start. This is turning out to be frustrating! haha. Everything i've read so far poitns to the /etc/inittab file and the runlevel, including the official website's documents.

Either i'm doing something terribly wrong or something was drastically changed in my system the last time I ran apt-get dist-upgrade that I don't know about.

I'm running out of ideas and things to read on this matter. Any and all help, as always is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

-Paul

reddazz · 04-11-2005, 03:04 AM

Debian always runs in runlevel two and does not follow the same runlevel system as other distros. To prevent GDM from starting, either remove gdm, reconfigure the system using dpkg-reconfigure so that gdm is disabled at boot time (sorry I don't know the exact procedure and syntax). "/etc/init.d/gdm stop" kills gdm and gives you a working envioment thats similar to init 3 and running "/etc/init.d/gdm" start puts you back into the gui login ust like init 5. Note that you are always in runlevel two whether or not gdm is running.

DeadlySin3 · 04-11-2005, 05:26 AM

Yes, I went into a #debian room on freenode, and was told the exact same thing. Thanks for the help and your time.