I just installed Debian 6 as a VMWare Virtual Machine from the debian-live-6.0.1-i386-gnome-desktop.iso image. During install it got stuck on the "configure the package manager" task. I skipped to install grub and the install seemed to finish OK. I rebooted the VM and logged in with my account.

I invoked Update Manager and received an error to the effect "... could not connect to repository..." My network/Internet connection on the VM is working OK as tested with the web browser.

Then I invoked Synaptic. I noticed that under Settings; Repositories that the repositories on the first tab "Debian Software" were unchecked and I could not check them. I exited Synaptic and received the message that the repositories had changed and to refresh. I did not change the repositories, I was not able to check any of them.

I then ran Update Manager again. This time "check" found a bunch of updates.

Back to Synaptic. I changed the server from Main Server to USA server. I could now check the repositories.

Back to Update Manager I am now installing the current updates.

This is my first experience with pure Debian (I have used derivatives such as Ubuntu an Mint). Am I missing something or is Debian just a little weird?

TIA,

Ken

This is not typical of Debian, at least when installed on bare iron (as they say).

You might try editing the /etc/apt/sources-list file directly. Maybe that file or its permissions got borked during the install.

Here's more on sources.list: http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap...basico.en.html

After reading the Howto if you still have questions post the out put of

Someone will help you fine tune them.

Debian is not weird. It does require you to think.

Running updates from an auto update device, on a box that is working, smacks of insanity.

I wouldn't us UM (update mangler) at anytime but to do it when dpkg or some thing is not working is unthinkable.

Settle down, relax, remember to breath.

Definitely post your sources list.

I am assuming that you have this installed in VM under some version of MS. If so, why the panic.

If you, as a security conscious person, had an insecure OS (any MS release) installed in VB under Debian, I could understand the panic at Debian not working. As it is I assume you have, seeing how you are on here now, a working OS.

Calm down, this is not the end of the world.

You are the one that decided to, with gui tools so there is no easy way to trace errors, an update on a system with obvious problems.

BEFORE doing that would have been a better time to ask questions.

Start giving some useful info by replying to 67chevy and supplying you sources list.

Do not treat people here as though they owe you something. They are all just people that would, so far, like to help you for their own reasons. Discouraging them by saying "hey I have been using distros that take all effort (and options) away from me and now I am using the foundation of those distros without understanding the roof, I need help to do things the way I am used to".

Sometimes you have an opportunity to actually learn something. Take it. It might be fun.

Being demanding of a quick solution to a problem on something that is obviously not your primary OS is not conducive to help.

1 members found this post helpful.

Ditch the training wheels... Debian is not Ubuntu. The best thing you can do is get rid of those things (update manager, synaptic, software properties, etc) and learn how package management actually works, no you're not learning programming and you're not going to have to lock yourself in basement for three months.

You should first post up your sources.list as it's likely that there were some networking issues during install. When this happens the installer simply disables all repos.

Thanks frankbell,

The installation did have an issue with configuring repositories as I said in the original post. Networking seemed to be OK as it did retrieve the time from an ntp server. Installing VMWare Tools hosed the VM so I am building it again. On the initial run of Synaptic I again see that the "Download from:" server is "Main Server". If I change that to "Server for United States" I can check the various Debian Software repos. I don't know where "Main Server" is and perhaps there is no such thing(?) Third party software repos were already checked. Updates were not checked but I can check them as desired. And reload updates package information as I would expect. Just something I had never come across in playing with quite a number of distros.

Thanks 62chevy,

I can manage the repos I want. I just had never been locked out on an initial install before. My first car was a '61 Chevy. Bought it from my brother in law for $75.

Thanks widget,

However, I am not in a panic although from your reply it seems like you might be. The VM is not running on Windows. It is running on a Ubuntu 10.04 LTS 64 bit machine. If I need to run Windows I run it as a VM on the Ubuntu host.

Thanks caravel,

As I stated above perhaps the "Main Server" selection caused the installer not to configure package management.

Ken