[newbie] Virtual Console Switching

[Jack Gillis]

When I installed Mandrake 7.2 I elected to have it boot to the Gnome 
Desktop.

I cannot use the Alt Function keys to switch to a Virtual Console.  Alt F1 
brings up  the Menu.  The others, nothing... I need access to Consoles.  Is there a 
way to do 
this?  As I recall, under my previous Red Hat installation I could do it.

Also,  I can find no way to log into a Console when I I log out of Gnome.

I must have done something wrong.

Thank you for any help.