Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3: Red Hat Enterprise Linux Step By Step Guide
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# 12.10. Changing Login from Console to X at Startup

How do I change my login from the console to the graphical screen?

Instead of logging in to your system at the console and typing the `startx` command to start the X Window System, you can configure your system so that you can log in directly to X.

You must edit one file, `/etc/inittab`, by changing just one number in the runlevel section. When you are finished, reboot the computer. The next time you log in, you will have a graphical login prompt.

Open a shell prompt. If you are in your user (home) account, change to the root user by using the `su` command:

    su -

Now, type `gedit /etc/inittab` to edit the file with gedit. The file `/etc/inittab` will open. Within the first screen, you will see a section of the file which looks like this:

    # Default runlevel. The runlevels used by RHS are:
    #   0 - halt (Do NOT set initdefault to this)
    #   1 - Single user mode
    #   2 - Multiuser, without NFS (The same as 3, if you do not have networking)
    #   3 - Full multiuser mode
    #   4 - unused
    #   5 - X11
    #   6 - reboot (Do NOT set initdefault to this)
    #
    id:3:initdefault:

To change from a console to a graphical login, you should change the number in the line `id:3:initdefault:` from a `3` to a `5`.

| Warning
| Change only the number of the default runlevel from `3` to `5`.

Your changed line should look like the following:

    id:5:initdefault:

When you are satisfied with your change, save and exit the file using the <KEYCAP >[Ctrl]</KEYCAP >-<KEYCAP >[x]</KEYCAP > keys. You will see a message telling you that the file has been modified, and asking you to confirm your change. Type <KEYCAP >[Y]</KEYCAP > for yes.

Now, your next login after reboot will be from the graphical screen.

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