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Unloading X without rebooting

How do I make Ubuntu run without X? In other distributions I would accomplish this easily by opening a terminal window, logging in as root, and typing 'init 3'. This would allow me to perform some administrative tasks (ie, install the NVIDIA display driver). However, when I do the same with Ubuntu, nothing seems to happen. Using Ubuntu 7.10. Thanks.

sanjooz

you can goto a terminal using shift+alt+F1 also.

To stop running X you can do that by :
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop or
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

then do your installation and stuff and then

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

If you want to permanently remove starting x

you could use update-rc.d -f remove gdm

sanjooz

oops sorry, make it
ctrl + alt + F1

gsaito

ASKER

Thanks but this doesn't seem to work. After issuing the 'gdm stop' command, the graphical interface would indeed be unloaded, but would immediately be replaced by a text mode X dialog asking "There already appears to be an X server running on display :0. Should another display number be tried? Answering NO will cause GDM to attempt starting the server on :0 again".

The point is that regardless of whether I choose YES or NO, it tries to load GDM again, the only difference being in which linux display.

Do you know why the usual "init 3" command does not work? I suspect it relates to the services that are enabled in each runlevel (usually runlevel 3 should not include loading X, but apparently in Ubuntu it does). I don know how to edit runlevels myself.

sanjooz

Debian based distros behave differently from Redhat based ones. In Redhat/Fedora, you could change the runlevel and accomplish what you are trying to accomplish.

If the gdm stop does not work, then you will have to remove and add the gdm startup script from your runlevel.

try

update-rc.d -f gdm remove

Once it removes the gdm startup script reboot your system and you should end up at a command prompt. To add this back to the runlevels try:

update-rc.d -f gdm defaults

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jhabib

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dontmessw94

It sounds like the original poster was using an Ubuntu LiveCD, that is the only instance I've seen it restart GDM after it has been stopped manually. I've tried installing the nvidia drivers on the 7.10 LiveCD's, and it doesn't work. I nominate sanjooz's comment except the key combination the first post is incorrect.