I'm currently apt-get'ing nvidia-glx while I write this, but I downloaded the nvidia driver for linux x86 on kubuntu 6.10 edgy. Problem is when I go to command line and try init 3 to shutdown x and start the nvidia installation it just sits there. commands I'm using: su then init 3 as well as sudo init 3. I logged off and attempted a console logon, it gave me a black screen with a blinking cursor in the upper left, waited for about a minute then went back to the gui logon. I'm not really concerned some much about getting nvidia drivers installed as i am being unable to init 3 or console logon. any ideas?

you could edit etc/inittab
id:3:initdefault:
then change back
aptget mc so your not compleatly in the dark

Add " S" (space-capital S) to the end of the kernel line on the boot menu. Will bring you up in single user mode.
For grub, just highlight the line and hit <e> and do the edit. Then <Enter> and <b> to boot.
Don't know about lilo - haven't used it since way back in the last millenium.

When finished, just do a "init whatever", or reboot.

inittab doesn't exist on my machine for some reason, and the single user only works for each boot. Is there no way to easily init 3 then init 5 like in most other distros or is that a security feature I have to unlock somewhere like root was?

Sounds like you are on Edgy (Ubuntu 6.10).
The developers decided in their wisdom that you (mere user that you are) didn't need to use the normal init scripts. Check out upstart on their site(s).
You will probably need to create yourself an inittab to do what you want.

I word to the wise if you desire support for more than the standard 18 month support term then I suggest theat you go with 6.065 Long Term Support hence the abriviatiopn LTS.