DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

How to boot any Linux live CD to CLI?

6 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/how-to-boot-any-linux-live-cd-to-cli.128510/

nisargshah95
nisargshah95 Original post #1
Jun 21, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Hi, I wanted to test some of the commands I learned for Linux operating systems, can you tell how can I directly boot into the Command Line Interface (not GUI) using a live CD of any linux OS?
Thanks in advance!
celldweller1591
Jun 22, 2010 at 5:19 AM
When you are booted into the GUI press Ctrl+alt+f1 to drop to tty console in Ubuntu. Slackware and Arch and others(backtrack, phlak etc) linux start from shell itself and "startx" helps the user to shift to X-window . Why do you want to drop to shell when you have got bash in gui also, its the same thing? Type sudo bash and type password and enter as root and test whatever you want.
G
gramesh #3
Jun 23, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Alternately you can start terminal and start testing your commands! You can use
man "command name " without quotes to know more about the commands.
Garbage
Garbage #4
Jun 23, 2010 at 6:44 PM
I think addding "single" to the end of the boot line of GRUB will drop you to the shell.
Use "e" to edit the boot line.
nisargshah95
Jun 23, 2010 at 8:41 PM
Thanks celldweller1591, I've tried the BackTrack4 and it opens by default in CLI mode in my PC. I want to boot into CLI so that I can test some commands which I've learnt.
celldweller1591
Jun 26, 2010 at 7:04 AM
Use Arch or Slackware then..... !!!