installing linux nvidia driver shutdown problem

I downloaded the device driver for linux and went to install it and it says that the device cannot be loaded while x-windows system is running. the problem is that i cant get fedora to close x-windows. I have tried ctlr-alt-bckspace and killing gnome. I have tried setting the run level to 3. Nothing seems to get me back to the terminal.

Anyone have any ideas how I can install this driver?

From a terminal as root:
init 3