unable to switch TTY in arch linux

So I'm moving away from Ubuntu into the realm of Arch Linux.

In Ubuntu I was able to switch TTYs with ctrl+alt+F1/F2... and etc.

In Arch when I attempt this, I'm merely dumped to a black screen with a flashing underscore (the resolution looks to be non-native as well).

I followed the beginners guide at here but to no avail.

I'm using a Thinkpad X220, with the xf86-video-intel driver (for my 2nd generation i7) and running i3 as my window manager.

adam

Posted 2012-05-28T01:14:02.807

Reputation: 473

@Paul No inittab in Arch Linux anymore. – MariusMatutiae – 2015-06-16T08:43:37.443

2Can you edit and add your /etc/inittab? – Paul – 2012-05-28T02:19:00.983

Answers

_{This is based on the OP's comment that should be an answer.}

To switch TTYs I was using Right Alt which on my Thinkpad corresponds to TTY13-24 (which aren't configured). Simply by using Left Alt everything works as expected.

Kamil Maciorowski

Posted 2012-05-28T01:14:02.807

Reputation: 38 429

I am having a similar problem, but with my setup (ext kbd) I need to use the right ctrl key instead of left. But I have to use left alt because on the right is altgr which does not work. – Martin B. – 2019-09-17T16:29:24.463

I guess rc.multi never ends, because one of daemons in the DAEMONS array is failing. Fire up a text editor on /etc/inittab and edit this line from:

rm:2345:wait:/etc/rc.multi

to:

rm:2345:once:/etc/rc.multi

If it works now, it confirms my guess, so you need to find which daemon is failing and fix it.

guido

Posted 2012-05-28T01:14:02.807

Reputation: 733

Arch doesn't use inittab anymore, since they switched to systemd. – Chris – 2015-04-09T04:26:10.820

5@adam then best practise is to write the answer yourself and then mark it selected. – larkey – 2015-07-18T09:38:19.487

2actrually, ive figured it out -- as dumb as it sounds, i was using R_alt to switch TTYs, which on my thinkpad, correspond to TTY13-24 (which arent configured) simply by using L_alt, everything works as expected. – adam – 2012-06-06T02:46:19.040