OK, like a dummy, I went into Xconfigurator to change my video resolution to 1024x768x24. When it didn't test correctly, *I* thought that it was because X was already running, SO... you guessed it: I skipped the test and rebooted. And of course I have it (stupidly) set to go automatically to XWindows, which just gives me a big 'ol black screen. Short of a boot disk (which I don't have, other than the install one), is there another way to FORCE it to boot to text mode rather than X?

Oh, RH 7.1, by the way...

Thanks,
Ric Crouch
Linux Newbie

You're using lilo to boot, aren't you ?

When lilo is installed in graphical mode, choose failsafe mode.

When you have text-mode lilo you should do the following:

1/ At the lilo prompt, press the [TAB] key. You will get the possible choices on your screen (probabely "linux" and "dos").
2/ Enter lilo init=/sbin/init 3

This will start linux in runlevel 3, which means you won't get X.

To turn off X for later reboots, go into the file /etc/inittab and change the default runlevel to 3 by changing the following line:

id:3:initdefault:

Btw, there's a little explanation on the runlevels in the comment block at the top of /etc/inittab.

<CTRL><ALT><BACKSPACE> should kill the xsession...

kris: Yep. Using the graphical lilo. Get a nifty Red Hat graphic, and my two boot options in HUGE type at the right. How do I choose failsafe mode? That's not on the list.

I MAY be able to get to the /etc/inittab using the boot disk (turns out with 7.1, you can once again use the install disk as a rescue disk... thank goodness) and editing the file.

mcleodnine: Yep, that's what *I* thought, but for some reason, that isn't getting me out. What happens is that the system beeps, the monitor goes off, and the system is apparently locked. NOT a good situation.

Anyway, thanks for the help. I will try these suggestions!

Ric

At the big ole Red Hat boot prompt press 'ctrl+x' this should give you the plain old lilo prompt. From there you can type 'linux single' this will drop you into a shell, from there you can edit the '/etc/inittab' file.

HTH

Stuart

That did it!
 

Using the rescue mode of the boot disk, I was able to put my /etc/inittab back to what it was. Then I used "linux single", ran Xconfigurator, and now I am back in business!

Thanks for all the help, guys!
Ric