Ubuntu :: Can't Access Machine After Starting In Runlevel 1?

i'm trying to install drivers for an nvidia card.

i was unable to stop X after trying the following:
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop
sudo service kdm stop
sudo stop kdm

i had ssh'ed in, so there was no point in trying ctrl-alt-f1.there was no /etc/inittab file, so i poked around, and found out that i could simply create one, and enter the following into it:

id:3:initdefault:

which would start the machine in runlevel three (to avoid starting X).that didn't work, since (k)ubuntu apparently ignores the differences between runlevels 2-5.

so i entered the following into my newly created /etc/inittab:

id:1:initdefault:

and restarted the machine.there was no screen output, and i could not ssh into the machine.i took out the new graphics card, and plugged the monitor into the motherboard's vga outlet.still no graphics on the monitor, and i can't ssh.

(and for extra points, how do i get my nvidia card to work?)