stop/start KDE from the command line (Terminal)

[conram]

@joonro

Thank you so much for this. I have been looking for how to do this as well. In my case, with certain settings in ~/.kde4/share/config/kwinrc which I have not been able to identify exactly, KDE just freezes upon login. I have to go to ctrl+alt+f1 and delete ~/.kde4/share/config/kwinrc and logout/login, and since KDE is unresponsive I could not log out, and I have been rebooting, which is a pain. $ init 3 -> $ init 5 worked like a charm!

-Joon

Have you tried Ctl-Alt-Backspace ?

[joonro]

@conram

Have you tried Ctl-Alt-Backspace ?

I believe I have. I will try it again if the freezing happens again. Thanks for reminding me!

-Joon

[robin_listas]

On 2012-11-11 04:26, joonro wrote:
>
> conram;2502350 Wrote:
>> Have you tried Ctl-Alt-Backspace ?
>
> I believe I have. I will try it again if the freezing happens again.
> Thanks for reminding me!

Then remember you have to type it twice: first one gives you a beep.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))

[gogalthorp]

You might try ctrl-alt-backspace twice this will stop x and sometimes will work even if all else is locked tight.

[Ecky]

@upiter

I’d like to do this, because I need to run Xorg -configure to create xorg.conf and cannot if X windows is running.
The solution of my problem seems to be init 3 to stop X windows.

I know a few solutions have been given but as already said killing a running kde session isn’t always the best idea, in case it helps this is what I usually do in scenarios like wanting to drop to runlevel 3 so as to install a graphics driver/configure xorg.conf

Logout of kde normally using Leave > Logout if possible which takes you to the kdm login screen, if for some reason I can’t logout this way (and only then) I use the Ctrl Alt & Backspace method

In kdm I then click the Shutdown icon and select the menu entry entitled Console Login

At the resulting console login prompt I login as root and then type: init 3

Usually after level 3 graphics configurations I just type: reboot, if not rebooting simply typing kdm as root in runlevel 3 restarts kdm then log back in as your ‘normal’ user

If a reboot wasn’t carried out and kdm restarted from the root console, Ctrl Alt & F1 to go back to the root console, type exit then Ctrl Alt & F7 to go back into the normal user’s running kde

Hope that helps