When I log into a virtual console (e.g.,#4) as ordinary user, I initially have a prompt & cursor. I then do several ls -l /home/user-name and several lines of data. If the number of lines is less than it takes to fill the screen, I will retain the prompt & cursor. If the number of lines (resulting from that last command) fills the screen or more, the last visible line will be data instead of the prompt & cursor. The up arrow no longer gives the previous commands. A clear command will restore the prompt & cursor.
This bug appeared a week or two after I installed CentOS5. Bob T.