i have runlevel 5 but on boot the X does not run and screen appears and disappears frequently(b4 login)

how do i now edit the runlevel

It's in /etc/inittab

You should see a line:
id:5:initdefault:

Edit it to:
id:3:initdefault:

Cool

but how should i edit /etc/inittab as i cannot login

the screen just go on blinking and nothing can be done

Use a rescue disk. Usually the first disk of any distro will do the trick. Type "linux rescue" at the prompt, and it will look for and mount your system under /mnt/sysimage. chroot /mnt/sysimage then use vim or whatever editor you like to edit inittab. Reboot and there you go.

Sounds like you need to play with your x configuration, but that's another story alltogether.

Have you tried doing a ctrl-alt-F1 while it was acting strange? It might drop you at a login:

ctrl-alt-f1 did nothing, the filckering just goes on

what to do now

Have you tried Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot?

When the system is starting up, you should be able to enter Ctrl-X (if you're using `lilo' as the boot loader, anyway. Dunno about `grub'). This exits the graphical boot selection and drops you to the text console. Then enter the kernel label followed by `single'. Press Tab if you need to see a list of the bootable kernels. For example, I have two kernels: generic from the install and custom, so I'd see

boot: [Tab]
custom generic

boot: custom single [Enter]

The system will then startup in single user mode. It will mount filesystems but not start all the usual collection of services. You can then cd to /etc and edit inittab to change the default run level. I'm assuming that you're familiar enough with vi to make the needed change. When you're done, I normally just reboot using `sync ; sync ; reboot'.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Rick

i have grub wiped out due to win xp installataion

so know i boot using loadlin from DOS

someone has told me to pass init=1 as loadlin parameter

i will try it soon

Thank You

try ctrl+alt+F2 (F2 ... F6 are OK) to login in text mode.
try press ESC when you're still at LILO (or GRUB) then
type linux 3 (the number of runlevel you want to use)

When i want to log in to run level 3 in my RH8 i just type
at the boot: prompt before linux starts loading,

linux 3

i boot linux in the following way

1) Boot from DOS

2) go to c:\ where i have copied loadlin.exe and vmlinuz form RH CD

3) use the command: loadlin vmlinuz root=/dev/hda8 ro

4) i have also tried: loadlin vmlinuz root=/dev/hda8 ro init=1
but failed

5) now should i use: loadlin vmlinuz root=/dev/hda8 ro linux 3

?

as there is no boot loader now so i have to boot from DOS and use loadlin


NOTE: while booting linux some steps get "FAILED" while mounting drives

Hello

I'm brand new to the world of Linux
I was given a machine with Mandrake installed
but i wasn't given the username or password. Now how would
i bypass these screens and i doubt if i can. So the next step
would be to format the hard drive i have attempted as much but
am having problems using FDISK from a windows based system.
(don't know if that has any bearing) Is there a specific FDisk
program that has to be used with Linux?

Any help much appreciated.

jjdm@telusplanet.net

you're probably better off installing a new installation of linux onto the same partition. Redhat offers the option of overwriting the linux partitons only (if you have non-linux partitions).

why are you trying to use FDisk etc?

Thanks for your reply - the problem is that the linux machine is set up with a username and password which i don't know. The box was given to me and i was never told what the username or password was so now i'm trying to make use of the computer by formating the drive and reinstall an OS.

There are some ways to bypass password in Mandrake distro.
If you're using LILO as bootloader in graphic mode : press ESC at boot screen to get into text mode and type "linux single" (w/o the " ") or "linux 1". This will make linux enter single user mode which will allow user to enter root for maintenance without password (you won't be able to fo this in some distro like SuSE).

When you get your prompt type passwd at the prompt and enter a new password.

Otherwise try to boot from Linux CD and find out yourself the maintenance and fixing tools included with the distro (i believe it won't be too difficult).

Good luck ! ^_^

Thanks for your reply that worked!!! I was able to set up an new password. UNFORTUNATELY once the new password is set up and i get the prompt it still requires a Username which i've also attempted to manipulate. I just can't get in. It definitely sets up a new password but when i enter it at the login screen it won't match anything. Any other ideas thanks...Jesse