[CentOS] Can't boot to init 3

> Problem is, I can't get to init level 3.  If I run 'init 3' from a root
> command line, it starts to go down, waits until I type something (anything),
> then begins heading for init 3 and stops dead right after starting anacron.
> The only way to revive it is to reboot.

After typing 'init 3' and X exits, hold down your 'Alt' key and press 'F1' 
to move to the first virtual terminal.  If that doesn't work for you, 
reboot, and when grub comes up, append a '3' to the kernel line and for 
that boot only you will go into runlevel 3.

Barry