How to get to the dot prompt on Ubuntu?

Darrell22 · 12-14-2012, 02:33 AM

Hey guys,

I've installed Suse, Redhat and Unix many times.
And today I installed Ubuntu for the first time.

From the install CD:
$ cat info
Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)

Good Gui.

But how do I get to the dot/command prompt?
I can't do any unix commands without it.

I poked around quite a bit, but didn't see anything obvious.

Sorry for such a dumb question.

Thanks a lot!

acid_kewpie · 12-14-2012, 03:21 AM

what is a "dot prompt"??? What are you looking at? Where in the system are you starting from?

Aquarius_Girl · 12-14-2012, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell22

But how do I get to the dot/command prompt?

Does pressing Alt F2 give you a window to type something on?
If yes, then type there - xterm or gnome-terminal .

tommcd · 12-14-2012, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell22

From the install CD:
$ cat info
Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)

But how do I get to the dot/command prompt?

If you are looking for the terminal on the Unity desktop environment, see this:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/terminal

yancek · 12-14-2012, 09:12 AM

Or simultaneously hold down the Ctrl+Alt+t keys.

Steve R. · 12-14-2012, 09:56 AM

If you are at the login screen and wish to switch to (enter) terminal mode, use CTRL-ALT-F1 to switch from the login screen to the command line. At that point you will be prompted to enter your user id and password.

The advice by yancek works (Ctrl+Alt+t) after you have successfully logged in (and the GUI is running) through the login screen to enter terminal mode (command line).

From Ask Ubuntu: What are Unity's keyboard and mouse shortcuts?

I just ran across this piece of advice form naveenubuntu.blogspot.com

Quote:

Ubuntu 12.04 : Keyboard Shortcut List
Ubuntu 12.04 has come up with a new way to display some common Unity Desktop keyboard shortcuts.

If you hold 'super' key for 2 seconds, you can see a Lens coming up displaying Ubuntu Desktop Keyboard shortcut keys.

They also provided a link to: Default Application Keyboard Shortcuts Ubuntu 12.04

jefro · 12-14-2012, 10:09 AM

Or one could boot to a run level 3. From a terminal one might be able to drop from level 5 to 3 with telinit or init command.