Holding down the power button when the systems freezes

[Paul Smith]

On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 4:24 AM, David G. Miller <dave at davenjudy.org> wrote:
>> When the systems freezes, is it safe to hold down the power button to
>> power off the machine? If not, what alternatives do you suggest?
>
> Simple test: if CapsLock and/or NumLock and/or ScrollLock still work (keyboard
> light reflects change in state), you have a shot at the Alt-SysReq-<key> stuff.
>  The keyboard lights are actually controlled by the O/S (keyboard driver
> specifically).  If the O/S is dead, the lights won't change state when you push
> whatever.
>
> I've had fairly good luck with this test.  Lights work --> be patient and see if
> you can get an alternate console, shell in, etc.  Lights don't work --> power
> key time.


Thanks, David and all other respondents. In case lights works, how can
one get a console?

Paul