Starting graphics managers can take some time on computers not particularly fast...
you can start a Linux distribution in text mode and then only if necessary to start a graphical session running gdm or kdm.
To do this simply edit the file /etc/inittab, look for the line containing the string: "id:5:initdefault" and change the number runlevel 5 into 3 that corresponds to text mode.
he following table shows the possible runlevel:
| 0 | system shutdown (HALT) |
| 1 | "single user" mode, without multiuser and networking support |
| 2 | customizable by the administrator of the computer |
| 3 | customizable by the administrator of the computer |
| 4 | customizable by the administrator of the computer |
| 5 | customizable by the administrator of the computer |
| 6 | system reboot |
