Arch Linux

fulloffur

Member

Registered: 2007-09-24

Posts: 20

[solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Hi, I would like to ask if there's any way to stop the kdm process from loading? After a update yesterday, all my input devices cannot function. After searching the forums, the solution seems to be editing the xorg.conf. However, I cannot access my computer as it is stuck in X.

I've tried the ctl+alt+f1-12, but there is no response. Neither does ctl+alt+bspce.

I'm running a dual boot laptop. My cdrom is faulty, hence I can't use the livecd. I've installed Archlinux via the unetbootin.

I've tried attaching a init number 3 to grub entry, but kdm still loads.

Is there any to stop kdm?

Thanks.

Last edited by fulloffur (2008-12-24 07:47:49)

windtalker

Member

Registered: 2008-03-17

Posts: 220

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Have you tried booting to the backup?

fulloffur

Member

Registered: 2007-09-24

Posts: 20

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

I've booted to windows, but windows do not see the linux partition. I used xfs for the filesystem.

crouse

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

From: Iowa - USA

Registered: 2006-08-19

Posts: 907

Website

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Boot a live cd like "Slax" or some other live cd and edit your rc.conf file.

fulloffur

Member

Registered: 2007-09-24

Posts: 20

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Boot a live cd like "Slax" or some other live cd and edit your rc.conf file.

I can't use a livecd... cos my cdrom is faulty.

So I'm guessing that there is no way to bypass the startup services in Archlinux. Is that correct?

I'm gonna try unetbootin and see if I can boot a livecd from windows. Okay... thinking back, I should have thought of this earlier... stupid me...

Thanks for the responses

Last edited by fulloffur (2008-12-24 06:10:26)

Dheart

Member

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered: 2006-10-26

Posts: 956

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Get the arch install cd, which you used for your installation. It has live cd capabilities. Than mount the local file system and edit /etc/rc.conf.
Aditionally there was a boot switch for runlevels, but I'm not sure whether it affects the startup daemons... I don't remember it, however, someone at the forums might know it.

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peart

Member

From: Kanuckistan

Registered: 2003-07-28

Posts: 510

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

If you cannot boot from anything other than your HD, then I can suggest a way of doing it:
1) Reboot, when grub comes up, press 'e' to edit.  Add "init=/bin/bash" to the end of the kernel line.  Press 'b' to boot.
2) Run these command when you get a bash prompt:

/bin/mount -n -t ramfs none /dev
/bin/mount -n -t proc none /proc
/bin/mount -n -t sysfs none /sys

3) Remount your root partition:

/bin/mount -n -t {ext3|jfs|xfs|reiserfs} -o rw,remount /dev/sda{1,2,3...} /

4) Edit /etc/rc.conf and disable kdm.  Just to be on the safe side, make sure your default runlevel is 3 in /etc/inittab.

You're good to go.

Last edited by peart (2008-12-24 07:28:41)

Allan

Pacman

From: Brisbane, AU

Registered: 2007-06-09

Posts: 11,384

Website

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Once you get it fix, look at the init method of starting kdm, rather than the rc.conf method

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peart

Member

From: Kanuckistan

Registered: 2003-07-28

Posts: 510

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

/me slaps forehead.  Just booting with "single" appended to the kernel line would be so much easier than what I wrote in my first post.

fulloffur

Member

Registered: 2007-09-24

Posts: 20

Re: [solved] How to stop kdm from starting

Thanks everyone.

I booted a livecd from windows and made the changes.

peart: that is interesting. i never knew it can be done like that. i'll keep it in mind. thanks.

--

Tried booting by appending 'single' as suggested by peart. That works. Simpler than using livecd, as least for me.

Gonna switch init method of starting kdm. Thanks Allan for the suggestion.

Last edited by fulloffur (2008-12-24 08:12:31)