Ubuntu desktop loads automatically when i start my pc?

Question

I have installed Ubuntu Server 8 and when i start my pc it brings me the command prompt. I have downloaded and installed Ubuntu desktop. From there I have done 77 updates! All went successfully!
Now when I start my PC it will load the desktop automatically. How can I restore it to bring me the command prompt first and if i want the desktop start it manually using "startx"?
Please help! Thx.

Answer 1

sudo update-rc.d -f gdm remove

this will stop the desktop from loading without removing any programs. then if you want the desktop you can do startx or sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

Answer 2

You lucky sap. I just did an update on Debian -- after being resigned to getting kdm when it came up -- and now it boots to text because kdm is broken (I'm not sure if I dare fix it given my past experiences with kde 4.x).



gdm has apparently been inserted into your start scripts. For now do a "sudo apt-get remove gdm" though sudo apt-get purge gdm may be the right command. Do it from a console screen which you can get to by pressing any function key from one through six and control and alt keys simultaneously, then logging in. The reason you do that is because removing gdm SHOULD kill your x-session running, so the program will not finish uninstalling. Then just watch the updates carefully and make sure it never puts gdm kdm or xdm back on your machine.

Answer 3

Run the following commands from your terminal



sudo aptitude install sysv-rc-conf



sudo sysv-rc-conf



Use the arrows to go down to "gdm" and unselect it for runlevel (column) 2 (the others are optional, you wont boot to them unless specifically specified).



GDM (the login manager) wont start on startup no more now, and thus neither will X.



To start it occasionally:



sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

Answer 4

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

sudo apt-get remove --purge gdm



That should do it.