Re: How to boot without GUI
On Wed, 27 May 2015, Bret Busby wrote:
> Helllo.
>
> I have installed Debian 6 LTS on a computer that has Ubuntu 14.04LTS
> and Debian 7 installed, and I want to get the external monitor working
> (I had been unable to get the external monitor working, with Debian
> 7).
>
> In order to accomplish this, I have downloaded the nvidia driver for
> the graphics card, a GEForce GT750M, from the nvidia web site.
>
> In following the instructions for installing the driver (download the
> driver, then change to the directory whether the file is stored, and
> run sh <filename>), I get the error message "You appear to be running
> xserver. Exit xserver and try again", or, words to that effect.
>
> I do not know how to turn off xserver, without running something like
> ps-ax | grep x and then killing all such processes returned, or
> rebooting into a text only boot session.
>
> Many years ago, when booting Linux, a person would boot Linux, log in,
> then run startx.
>
> Now, the GUI, if installed, automatically loads, so that the system
> apparently does not boot without the GUI being loaded, if the GUI is
> installed.
>
> How do I boot into a text only session, without the GUI being loaded,
> if that is possible, so that I can be able to perform this awkward
> installation?
>
> Or, is a way available, without causing damage, that I can do
> something like go to a console (<CTRL><ALT<F1>) and turn off, from
> there, the xserver, so as to enable the installation?
>
> I have been unable to find the appropriate information on the nvidia
> web site.
>
> Thank you in anticipation.
If it's enabled, CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE will halt X and all GUI stuff, and
drop you to a terminal. Once you've installed the nVidia driver,
etc., just type startx.
B
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