fedora core

On 2004-10-09, Affan <intiha.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> I installed on my Dell inspiron laptop Fedora core. everything went
> fine, until one day I tried to use just the simple, ole console using
> CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE. now the screen went blank, and since then, even if
> i reboot ... when the time comes for the GUI login to be shown..
> everything goes blank, although i know the login works correctly,
> since HD blinks and I can feel the processor runnin... but I cant see
> anything.
>
> Any idea how to rectify this... and why did it happen in the first
> place.. Please I really need help... thanks.

This is because by default Fedora installs to use runlevel 5, with a
display manager (gdm/kdm/xdm) specified in /etc/inittab to be respawned
whenever the X server dies:

# Run xdm in runlevel 5
x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/prefdm -nodaemon

Using CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE simply kills the X server, which if you're not in
runlevel 5 will drop you back to a text console, but in runlevel 5 will
cause init to respawn the display manager.

You can "fix" this a couple of ways: edit /etc/inittab so your system
starts in runlevel 3 (text) and use "startx" to launch X after you log in,
or simply switch to a text terminal from X using CTRL-ALT-Fn where "Fn" is
one of the function keys F1 through (usually) F6. Return to your X
session by pressing (usually) F7, although if you have more than one X
server running, F8 through F12 can also work.

--

-John (john@os2.dhs.org)