Continuous XDM loop

d3c3it · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:29 pm Post subject: Continuous XDM loop

Hi
Ive just finished compiling KDE but ive made a screw up with the X config and i need to redo it but i cant not because whenever i start X keeps load and unloading and i cant stop it to access the the initrd file to change it to load into text mode and now icant even log in because i try ctrl+alt+f1 get the prompt and then XDM loads again. Ive tried ctrl+alt+backslash and that wont kill X either.
Im using Xfree 4.2.1. Ive a boot disk but not a clue to do at the grub> prompt
please anyone im in need of major help if i can just get back into turn X off when it boots im sitting pretty again and i can try and fix it
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bsolar · Bodhisattva Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2764

You can use the gentoo livecd to boot.
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d3c3it · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:40 pm Post subject:

doh never thought of that
<lack of sleep>
sorry for being usless but what then when i boot the cd? how do i mount my root partition and get in and change the config files
*my root partition is hda4*

this my own fault for messing with the XF86Config file heh
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d3c3it · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:45 pm Post subject:

actually its already in runlevel 3, but xdm keeps loading, unloading, loading, unloading. i fear ill have to start the install again:/
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bsolar · Bodhisattva Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2764

Boot from the cd and reach the promt. Then do:

dufnutz · Apprentice Joined: 01 May 2002 Posts: 209

not to steal the thread but

is there a way to tell grub not to load xdm?

in my grub menu i want one entry to load gentoo as normal (go straight to gdm)

and i want a "debug mode" one that boots straight to cli w/o attempting X... is this doable?

bsolar · Bodhisattva Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2764

I don't know if the boot runlevel is usable for that, but you can create a copy of the default runlevel just without x and then tell grub to go for it.
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I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

dufnutz · Apprentice Joined: 01 May 2002 Posts: 209

bsolar · Bodhisattva Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2764

d3c3it · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2003 12:32 am Post subject:

guero61 · l33t Joined: 14 Oct 2002 Posts: 811 Location: Behind you

The issue you've encountered, as I understand it, stems from (usually) improper driver installation. When my machine cannot find the nvidia driver for the currently running kernel, it loops like that. HOWEVER, it does have a safeguard set up; give it a minute or so, and it'll stop looping, giving you a chance to get in and make fixes.

So in short, let it loop until it stops, log in, fix the driver, and reboot. All will be well.

d3c3it · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2003 10:20 am Post subject:

thanks d00d but i fixed it already what bsolar suggested worked a treat:)
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