> Jesse Evans wrote:
>
> Hi, folks!
>
> I've just downloaded and installed the debian system on my home PC
> and have gotten myself into a bit of trouble after running dselect. I
> grabbed all the 'home system' stuff and finally got to the
> configuration steps, where I was asked if I wished to have my system
> start up automatically with xdm at boot time. Foolishly, I said yes.
> Now, after rebooting my system, I see all the start up messages scroll
> down until it gets to "starting xdm", after which the display starts
> blinking on and off at a rate of about once per second. It only
> accepts keyboard input during the on cycle, which is very short, thus
> rendering the thing essentially useless. The only way out seems to be
> via the reset button.
>
> My guess is that I failed to properly configure the display manager
> (I think that's what xdm is). How can I regain control of the system
> and reset it so that it won't try to start xdm at boot time? Also, are
> there any tips you folks might share with me regarding getting things
> set up properly? This is a standalone PC-clone system and I'm just
> interested in learning what linux is all about.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
You need to change the /etc/X11/config file. In it is a line
'start-xdm'. Change that line to 'no-start-xdm'. If you have to, boot
your rescue floppy, mount your root partition manually and change the
file.
--
Ed C.
