This question has already been answered:

There was a need to disable the ubuntu GUI, but I do not know how to do it. I know that Win7 has an executable file explorer.exe, we delete it and the graphical shell disappears, is there a similar file in linux?

Reported as a duplicate by participants aleksandr barakin , Alexey Lobanov , Streletz , sercxjo , Abyx Nov 25 '15 at 21:11 .

A similar question was asked earlier and an answer has already been received. If the answers provided are not exhaustive, please ask a new question .

    2 answers 2

    In Windows, you cannot reach disabling the graphical shell by removing explorer.exe. I'm not at all sure that it is possible to disable it there.

    In Ubuntu, you can use the combination Ctrl + Alt + F1

    • 2
      In Windows, you can. You can specify your Shell, and in it at least explorer.exe (by default), at least a console application. - VladD
    • 3
      {HKLM, HKCU} \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ Shell. - VladD

    You can go to the "hard" console using the keys Ctrl + Alt + F1 , F2 , F3 ; In it you will have to re-enter the username and password of the user. This console is useful for cases when the graphical shell is somehow broken and needs, for example, a reboot.

    You can go back using Ctrl + Alt + F7 (sometimes F8 )

    If you need a server completely without a graphical shell (this is useful for saving resources, for example), then you can immediately install the system accordingly. Or reconfigure existing:

    (thanks to alexander barakin for the addition)


    I confirm LEQADA's doubts: in Windows there is no possibility to install the system without a graphical shell at all, but you can boot into safe mode only with the command line. Removing explorer.exe will not lead to anything good.

    • one
      you just need to immediately install the system accordingly - not necessarily. link1 , link2 - aleksandr barakin
    • one
      @alexanderbarakin: thanks, you're an expert, as always. Corrected the answer. - Nick Volynkin
    • I am just learning. - aleksandr barakin
    • 2
      @alexanderbarakin: everyone would learn so) - Nick Volynkin