Runlevel 1 (single user mode) broken

[Captain Chaos]

When I try to start Ubuntu in runlevel 1 (by appending a space followed by a 1 to the kernel command line in the Grub boot menu), the result is a hung and unresponsive system. It seems to boot normally, but instead of presenting a single user mode shell on the console like I would expect, it tries to start a graphical environment, which displays a dialog box saying something about Ubuntu running in diminished or restrictive mode or something like that and that I have to manually configure the keyboard, mouse, etc. At this point the system hangs. Neither mouse nor keyboard responds, nor can I switch to a text mode console with Ctrl+Alt+F1 or similar.

When I boot a system in runlevel 1 I expect a text mode console, not a graphical environment. But if it must boot a graphical environment it should obviously work (the fact that it so often does not work is precisely why it shouldn't even try to start a graphical environment in runlevel 1, but a text mode console).

This is on Ubuntu Karmic Koala 64-bits with all the latest updates applied.

I don't know if it is used in this environment or not, but just in case I have attached my xorg.conf. Please let me know what other information I can provide to help debug this problem!

lsb_release -rd:
Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10

uname -a:
Linux peregrin 2.6.31-19-generic #56-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jan 28 02:39:34 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thanks for the report, it has been some time without any response or feedback in this bug report and we are wondering if this is still an issue for you with the latest release of Ubuntu the Natty Narwhal, May you please test with that version and comment back if you're still having or not the issue? Please have a look at http://www.ubuntu.com/download to know how to install that version.Thanks in advance.

[Captain Chaos (launchpad-chaos)]

I just tried it, and yes, this bug still exists in Natty. The behaviour is slightly different. Now, when I boot in single user mode by appending a 1 to the kernel command line, it boots to a graphical environment showing a menu with several options (reconfigure graphics, terminal, reboot, etc.), and then hangs.

It displays the dialog box I described in the original bug report first, which I can now dismiss by pressing Enter. Then, however, the computer still becomes completely unresponsive. Neither my USB keyboard nor my Bluetooth mouse work. The keyboard's Numlock light does not even respond anymore, indicating the computer is well and truly hung.

[Captain Chaos (launchpad-chaos)]

I don't understand why it doesn't just boot to a text mode terminal. That's what I really want! I'm not booting into recovery mode, I'm booting into single user mode.