I have installed Debian Lenny from a 5 DVD set I purchased some time ago as well as packages I needed over time but now 'synaptic' refuses to recognize the first dvd as number one although when I try it, it boots normally for an install that I then abort.

I'd like to install some packages directly from the Internet, can anyone explain what I need to do or point me to instructions, I do not have much experience with the command line.

My current kernel is 2-6-26.21

Thank you for your help.

Google around a bit for more info on apt (the package manager), synaptic (the graphical front-end for apt) and how to set up
the list of (internet) repositories that they search for packages.

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First go to "Post your sources.list" (top of this Debian sub-forum). Add to your /etc/apt/sources.list the repos you'll need. Do so by logging in as root, opening an editor - nano /etc/apt/sources.list. Add new sources. Save and exit. It's important to update your system with the command apt-get update. This will let your OS know it's got new sources to get apps from.

Still as root, the CLI command to install packages is apt-get install whatever. You could start off with a search, apt-cache search whatever. But I would suggest you use synaptic. It's the GUI front-end of Apt-get. Synaptic is at System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. One can do it all from there.

To use the dvds you need to add them to your sources.list using apt-cdrom

Adding a CD-ROM to the sources.list file

If you'd rather use your CD-ROM for installing packages or updating your system automatically with APT, you can put it in your sources.list. To do so, you can use the apt-cdrom program like this:

# apt-cdrom add

with the Debian CD-ROM in the drive. It will mount the CD-ROM, and if it's a valid Debian CD it will look for package information on the disk. If your CD-ROM configuration is a little unusual, you can also use the following options:

-h - program help
-d directory - CD-ROM mount point
-r - Rename a recognized CD-ROM
-m - No mounting
-f - Fast mode, don't check package files
-a - Thorough scan mode

For example:

# apt-cdrom -d /home/kov/mycdrom add

You can also identify a CD-ROM, without adding it to your list:

# apt-cdrom ident

Note that this program only works if your CD-ROM is properly configured in your system's /etc/fstab.

Thank you all.

This was my file "/etc/apt/sources.list.

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.4 _Lenny_ - Official amd64 DVD Binary-1 20100131-22:09]/ lenny contrib main

deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.4 _Lenny_ - Official amd64 DVD Binary-1 20100131-22:09]/ lenny contrib main

deb http://ftp.au.debian.org/debian/ lenny main
deb-src http://ftp.au.debian.org/debian/ lenny main

deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib

deb http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib
deb-src http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib

I figured that the repos were already listed but that priority was given to get the apps from CDs due to line 2 which is an uncommented repetition of line 1.
So I commented it out and typed as root: apt-get install tree
This was the first application I needed to install and it was installed in a few seconds, it's a beauty and the result was the same using "synaptic" after removing "tree".