I found a spiffy way to drop down into cli mode that is easier if you install the proprietary drivers. (Possibly Fedora or Systemd only?!)
Instead of the normal command where you have to type it in before you reboot and then retype to get back to graphics mode.
On startup:
1. Press 'e' on the kernel you want to load
2. Find the line starting with 'linux' and hit 'end'.
3. Make a 'space' using the 'spacebar' if one is not present
4. Type: '
systemd.unit=multi-user.target'
5. Press 'Ctrl-x' to start the kernel load. Or whatever it tells you to use at the bottom of the screen.
All things typed/pressed are without the ' '.
After successfully installing your graphics drivers reboot.(via ctrl-alt-delete or typing 'reboot' and hitting enter.) It will automatically return to level 5 graphics after starting up the kernel.
This creates a one time drop to level 3 or whatever it is called. I always use this because I can never remember the line to reset back to level 5 and go back to graphics mode. So, I find this easier.
This method is also very convenient if your system gets messed up and you can't get back into the desktop to type in the command to get down to cli mode on restart as this can be done at the kernel load screen.
And another tip for the nvidia drivers. If you get a new kernel and it won't load correctly for any reason with the normal instruction from
https://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/2015/fedora-nvidia-guide/ (at least this is how I install them) it's usually the DKMS screwing up. Fix this by going into cli on kernel load and reinstall the graphics drivers manually from within that specific kernel. If you drop down to level 3 with this and install the drivers again it will usually allow the kernel to come up. 95% of the problems I have with new kernels is from this issue. Normally it will just let you install them with DKMS and you just restart and start your kernel normally. This time I had to install without DKMS and it said something about mismatched software related to it and to abort or ignore. I ignored and installed the drivers without DKMS and my stuff started up properly. I will just need to manually reinstall the graphics drivers next kernel probably, with DKMS hopefully, and make sure that kernel has graphics drivers properly.
BTW, there have been a lot of issues as of late with kernels needing to have drivers manually installed again and not carrying over from installing them in a previous kernel. This used to not be the case. Although I think the last few kernels may have been fine until this most recent one.