alex wrote:
I haven't been able to get apt- and dselect to finish the 'update' phase when I try to download and install packages from the sites recommended for deb packages but they work ok when they're used with Debian CD's. I don't think it is a modem problem because email and web browsing work fine on Debian's Mozilla. I have successfully downloaded a deb package (no 'required'packages) as an ordinary file with Windows98, burned it on a CD, and run the CD on Debian with apt and was able to install the package--a tedious process. (I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can burn CD's on Debian.)
Once you have the .deb locally, you can simply run "dpkg -i your_file_to_be_installed.deb", saving a bit of tedium perhaps.
apt and dselect seem to start 'update' OK and and appear to find some files but in a short time, an error notice showsup, (error 1, error2, 404 and the like) and the 'update' stops.
I'm not sure about the "error 1", "error 2", but the 404 is a standard "can't find internet site" error. Sounds like maybe you've got errors in your /etc/apt/sources.list file.
Perhaps off track but related......... Am I mistaken in my understanding that when a deb packageis downloaded/installed with apt- commands, its 'required' support packages are automatically included or is it necessary to get them separately first? How about 'recommended' support packages?
Assuming you have a live source (a network connection, the appropriate CDs, etc), apt will acquire and install any required dependencies for you. For example, "apt-get install kde" requires bunches of stuff, and will download everything and install it.
I don't believe apt will get recommends, whereas dselect will, but I'm not an authoritative source for an answer on this.