Hi,

I have been working with diff linux os for a while
something that realy bothers me is that once i change to runlevet 5 (at boot), I can't login as root with KDE, gnome or TWE.
and more than that, i can't find a way to get back to text console to change my config/init files to start back in run level 3
I never found out how to get out of that pitfall

please can someone give me the trick ?
otherwise I'll have to reinstall ROCK linux, or even worst, MS Winshit

[edit: I've stopped Grub loading to go interactive with it and I did
kernel vmlinuz_2.6.... 3 (for runlevel 3)
the i did 'boot' and had a kernel panic :-( ]

sheers
Phil

- i still can't change my mind, after all these years, linux/unix config files are the worst crap ever invented !!!! -

Your feelings on text-based config files are unfortunate, for you. Many of use find that it is much more agile and fast to configure something "The Way You want it" right off in a simple file, than messing with a GUI that doesn't necessarily offer the exact syntax or options you need.

Anyways, to change runlevels, simply open a console window and type 'su', enter the root password, and then use 'init #' or 'telinit #' or '/sbin/telinit #', where in each case, # is whatever runlevel you seek.

Alternately, you can hit CTRL-ALT-Fn where Fn is a function key from 1-6 (typically) which will take you to another virtual terminal, where you can login as root and change runlevels.

sorry, maybe i wasn't clear enough
I got the GUI login with no way to get a text console
what do i do ?

Same thing.. While at the GUI login, hit CTRL-ALT-Fn to get a virtual terminal, and login in the console.

HAve you hit ctrl+alt+Fn? Did it work or give an error?

Why don't you try the single user mode.
On the grub screen navigate to the menu item which shows the linux kernel -> then press 'e' -> a new list opens up, move to the second option which gives the kernel parameters -> press 'e' again to edit the line -> go to the end of the line and type single -> press Enter to return to the kernel parameter list -> now press 'b' to continue booting.
After the usual uncompressing of kernel and mounting of the fs, the loading of device drivers will be done and then init drops you to a shell prompt.
You have root privileges and now just edit the /etc/inittab file with vi the way you want to boot up.
You can even change your root passwd by simply pressing passwd root here.
After you are done making changes , just continue with normal boot by entering init runlevelNo

hope this helps
nishith

How about telinit 1 as root?

In KDE, IIRC, the disabling of GUI root log in is an option that you can change in the "Login Manager" screen.

Do, however, note that GUI "root" logins can be quite dangerous to the health of your system. If you really need a "root" GUI, do the "Ctrl-Alt-F[1-6]" thing, log in as "root" and then try a startx command.

FWIW, you do remember correctly, in part atleast. I'm not certain it can be done from the login manager, though maybe. But I did it my editing the config file, which **might have been** a .loginrc file.

screw up for x config files, then x can't start automatically and you get droped a cli login prompt

(the screwing up can be done from a "recovery" type shell)