On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 9:46 PM, Bob Proulx <b...@proulx.com> wrote: > John Foster wrote: > > Bob Proulx wrote: > > > John Foster wrote: > > > > Any idea what I need to edit to get my system back to what I like. I > > > > will probably figure it out sooner or later, but sooner will be > > > > better. > > > > > > Probably. But please do tell us on the mailing list what it is that > > > you are trying to accomplish. You asked about how to drop from X > > > Windows to the text console and I replied with Control-Alt-F1. As far > > > as I can tell that should have completely and totally answered your > > > question. But I guess not. I and others on the mailing list will be > > > happy to help but we are not mind readers. Tell us something. > > > > Sorry I thought I made it plain. I can NOT use CTRL/ALT/F1 to get to the > > basic console. > > Uhm... no. You said: > > > > > I can not access the consoles by hitting ctrl,alt,delete. > > That is a different key sequence. To get to the console you need > CTRL-ALT-F1 through CTRL-ALT-F6 or so. > > <possibly_useful_sidebar> > The /etc/inittab defines the following line: > > # What to do when CTRL-ALT-DEL is pressed. > ca:12345:ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -t1 -a -r now > > And is documented in the 'man inittab' man page: > > ctrlaltdel > The process will be executed when init receives the > SIGINT signal. This means that someone on the system > console has pressed the CTRL-ALT-DEL key > combination. Typically one wants to execute some sort of > shutdown either to get into single-user level or to > reboot the machine. > </possibly_useful_sidebar> > > > I have noticed that in the last 2 systems I have built & installed > > linux on that this was the standard installation with xwindows. > > Sorry but your words are ambiguous. I can't tell if you are saying > that you found CTRL-ALT-F1 standard and working or if you are saying > that it has not been working for you the last few installs. > > Let me assure you that a stock Debian installation with X Windows on > most normal supported hardware that CTRL-ALT-F1 will get you to the > text console. If it doesn't then there may be a hardware support > problem. Especially as related to the newer KVM and framebuffer > console. Blech! I hate that the Linux kernel dropped support for > much of the older hardware when they turned on that system. > > > This function is disabled. I had to edit some file in /etc/ X11 or > > Xorg to get this to work. Its been a couple of years & I forgot what > > I had to edit & where it was. Sorry for the confusion. Not a rookie, > > just don't do this often. > > Okay. But how do you know it is disabled? Don't jump to conclusions. > Instead describe exactly what you are seeing. > > You are in X11, right? Is this a gdm (gnome display manager) login > screen? You press CTRL-ALT-F1 and nothing happens and you are still > left at the gdm login screen? Or does something happen such as does > the screen go black? > > Did you try Whit's suggestion to try setting vga=785 on the boot > command line to set to a 640x480 64k color framebuffer? > > If you say the type of hardware you have then someone on the list may > have the same hardware and be able to suggest the correct solution. > > Bob >
OK its working now. I have no idea why except that it may have been an issue with the keyboard. I installed a bunch of firmware for other hardware Video, keyboard, etc. and when I got done shut down the system to reboot another OS. When I restarted it all was working well including my Logictech G-10 keyboard. Now goes to the console when I hit Ctrl; Alt; F1; etc. As usual, this list is my lifesaver. I'm a user of Linux, not really interested in a lot of experimental software installation & tweaking of things. I just want it to work. Thanks for your assist.
