Very new to Mandrake 8.1. Installed fine, but I wanted to change my screen resolution to 800x600 from 640x480. So, I followed the steps from a few posts down, edited XF86Config-4 in vi, but I changed the res on all the display settings instead of the screen setting (I know... I'm an idiot) and need to get back to fix it. Everytime I boot though, it goes straight to X. How can I get to the command prompt to fix it? Thanks!

try temporarily passing the kernel arg
init=/bin/bash
into the bootloader
boot
at the prompt
[root@hostname /directory]#mount -oremount rw /
edit the /etc/inittab default runlevel to 1,2,or 3
(4 isn't used, 5 is X windows, 1 and 6 are halt and reboot respectively)
again at the prompt
[root@hostname /directory]#mount -oremount ro /
reboot
edit your monitor config files
reset default runlevel to 5
while logged on as root
use
init 5
you should be back in buisiness
you can also try running Xconfigurator if it's only x windows that's the problem, hope this helps, cheers

It's a very good idea not to boot into a gui login so you can trouble shoot X problems, boot to runlevel 3 and type "startx" after logging in and if you get dumped back into the conlole due to an X error all you have to do is su to root and edit a few files to fix it (touch wood), you can even surf here in text mode with lynx for help and advice (but don't do that as root).

just to add to aussie's post: boot into runlevel 3 and run setup(this tool in rh7.1 helps to setup services, mouse, keyboard, display, networking etc), and set your display. it is much easier that editing xf86config. (u may lose out on something while editing xf86config).

i know ur talking of mandrake, but if rh has that tool, mandrake cannot be far behind!!

Try running Hardrake to reset your problem