> > > METHOD 1. Fairly Involved, but worth a try a. Log in as 'root' (You probably entered a password for 'root' during the install, as well as a user and password)[4] b. Run commands to make sure the system is partly up to date: echo "deb ftp://ftp.egr.msu.edu/debian stable contrib main non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list apt-get update && apt-get install aptitude c. Run a command to install something pretty Either: aptitude install x-window-system kdm kde synaptic openoffice.org mozilla-firefox OR: aptitude install x-window-system gdm gnome synaptic openoffice.org mozilla-firefox d. Wait a bit, and try to answer any questions--some will appear. The default answers are usually pretty good (unless it's obvious they are wrong). > > ok so i tried method one but it said permission denied even though i was in > the root login. i was wondering what might cause that. i was also wondering > if i could install those through /usr/sbin/base-sonfig. also i was > wondering if the gui isnt working because im booting the system from a > floppy. thanks for your help. and patience with a newbie like me Trevor, > What step fails? If it is the first part of step b. that fails, skip it and go to the second part of step b. (apt-get update && apt-get install aptitude) Is this the error? bash: /etc/apt/sources.list: Permission denied If that is the error, maybe you are mysteriously not root. Type this to check: su If it asks for a password, enter it. If not, you are in root already. (If you are asked for a password, Method 1 should work again, but base-config would iron out most other quirks that might exist.) If it does not ask for a password, you can run base-config Simply type: base-config (I certainly didn't think about that, though I have run it to fix install problems--just like this situation calls for.) If there are problems after base-config, and you want to continue this adventure, here are some things that will help: Post (reply) to debian-user@lists.debian.org (I think I brought it off-list by accident) Include these in the email to the list: Permissions error How you made the boot floppy (did you make before the install, after the install, during the install, and were you asked by the Debian to make it?) Type this command and include the results (Filesystem is the most important column): df -h Does Debian share the hard disk with another OS (dual-boot)? Do you remember anything about lilo/grub/bootloader during the install? What happens when you type 'su'? (password, no password, Authentication failure?) That should be enough to help. In the worst case, I'm guessing the boot disk actually loads its own Debian, and the Debian on your hard disk isn't loaded. If 'df -h' only shows something like /dev/fd0, but has no /dev/hd?? or /dev/sd?? listings (??=anyletter, any number), then this is likely the case, and the list can help you with the rest. (I haven't used floppies in a long time, and have forgotten what's avail. on the Debian boot floppy. The fix would then be a chroot /dev/hd?? and doing things to make the Linux partition bootable.) I recommend thinking about Ubuntu if you find yourself spending more time than you want getting Debian running. (It's practically Debian with most user-end quirks ironed out--quirks like this.) If you still want to take time fixing this, then welcome!
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