Hello,
I am trying out Red Hat Linux 9.0 (first venture into the Linux world). I got it working, but tried to modify the display settings (to increase the color settings to 24Bit true color). I got a message saying that my old settings were backed up as <filename>.bak (I don't recall the filename). When I rebooted, I found my display totally messed up... the screen is black and I can faintly see the characters written on the screen - none of them are legible though.

I think I will be able to restore the old configuration file, but I don't know how to boot directly into the command prompt - I tried booting using the boot diskette, but it still takes me to GRUB GUI and again, I can't read anything there...
Is there any way for me to bypass the GUI and go directly to the command prompt?

Please help!
Thanks
- Joseph

Hi,

As for the file which was backed up, it was probably /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config. I don't know why the problem occurs even when you boot from a boot diskette; X wouldn't have started by the time you get the GRUB screen. Maybe you can try knoppix. Did you try pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1 after booting? What happened?

Thanks for your quick response Arvindn,
There apaprently was some problem with my boot diskette - I asked a friend for one and when I boot using that, I get a command prompt for GRUB. But it is not in the kernel - how do I go from the GRUB command prompt to the kernel prompt? normal unix commands like LS are not working at that prompt...
Any suggestions?
Thanks again!
- Joseph

When you say "kernel prompt" you mean bash prompt or shell prompt, because the kernel doesn't interact directly with the user :-)

Try typing "linux single" into the grub prompt.

Arvind

Sorry - I meant shell prompt (I'm really new to Linux/Unix, so I'm not too familier with the terminology... )

I will try Linux Single at the grub prompt today and hopefully be able to restore that config file... I will let you know this evening about how it turned out...
Thanks again!! I really appreciate your help!
- Joseph

Thank you Arvind!
"linux single" did the trick!

Thanks BIG time!