No Debian Kernal Source
 

I just installed Debian Linux 3.0 R2. I downloaded the 7 CD's and the install went fine. Running StartX failed with a "No Screen found" error. After searching through posting I determined (hopefully correctly) that the distribuitions NV driver is not new enough. I went to the Nvidia website and downloaded a new driver. When install it, the driver requires recompiling the kernal source, but it is not on my system - at least nowhere I can find it. I search through postings on this site and the directories are there, but no "source". So, now I am stuck. Any guidence would be much appreciated.

use dselect. it'S command line so you don't need x working. the kernel-source is called something like this:
kernel-source-<version>

shorter:
apt-cache search kernel-source-<version>
apt-get install kernel-source-version>

sl mritch.

I have been able to get it to work by downloading the kernel-headers for whatever "uname -a" I am using if I don't need/want to recompile.

still trying
 

No luck yet downloading the source. I will try getting the headers this afternoon. I guess this is how I get my intro to Linux. Thanks for the help!

were you able to get your source using apt-get?:Pengy:
on debian, IIRCC:scratch:, the source is not extracted in /usr/src, apt-get only puts the tar.bz2 file there,which is "kernel-source-2.6.8.tar.bz2" for my SID system.

"I just installed Debian Linux 3.0 R2. I downloaded the 7 CD's and the install went fine."

All you needed was CD1.


"Running StartX failed with a "No Screen found" error."

That means a bad configuration of the xserver.

#dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

"After searching through posting I determined (hopefully correctly) that the distribuitions NV driver is not new enough."

The 'nv' module will work in 2D, no reason to give you a 'no screens found' error message.

sections 9 and 10
http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016



"I went to the Nvidia website and downloaded a new driver. When install it, the driver requires recompiling the kernal source, but it is not on my system - at least nowhere I can find it. I search through postings on this site and the directories are there, but no "source". So, now I am stuck."

#apt-cache search kernel-image

choose what you want according to your processor.

example:
#apt-get install kernel-image-2.4.27-1-686
answer the questions put to you and at the end,

#/sbin/lilo
reboot


This is the long answer.

The short one, download the Sarge Net-installer:
http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

at the prompt, check F1 and F3, take the defaults, skip 'choose your applications' from the installation menu, when you're through, install x-window-system, any window manager, mozilla, as user:

$startx

and you're in, next time you start the computer, you will have xdm. Your problems will go away. Follow the sticky about debian configuration at the top of this page.

No luck yet. I tryed using dSelect to get the header and source files, and it said it did but only tar files were installed. The apt-cache worked, but the apt-get failed. I will try the

Sorry for the half reply. I am downloading the sarge installer. I will give that a try. Thanks for everyones help on this!!!!!!

install X
 

I downloaded sarge and ran the install. The install ran fine. I did not install any packages (I did let it scan all 7 CD's to pick up the available packages). After completing the install of Debian, I now want to install X Windows, window manager,and mozilla. I am trying to do this running dselect. I cannot do this as my user account do to privilages. I logged in as root, and ran dselect. It is not clear to me what packages to install.

This is my first linux install and I seem to be struggling. What should I do next? Also, I cannot find the sticky at the top of the page macondo is referring to. So much for my 15 years of software engineering experience:)

hold up
 

I found the article by macondo on osnews. Let me follow that before burning anyones time.

thanks,

LOL!
the article was written by Clinton De Young, i wouldn't know how to write such a great article.

Read sections 9 and 10 on how to configure X, then continue on how to use apt-get. This apt-get program is the one you are gonna use to install your apps:

as root:

#apt-get install x-window-system mozilla icewm icewm-themes iceme locales

all this is explained in the article, read it all. Now, this article was written to install Woody with kernel 2.2 but the sections on X, apt-get, apply to your Sarge installation, after that, read the sticky entitled:

Debian Configuration Post-Install
(it's the first or second post on this site)

read it and the postings after that.

If you feel this is over your head your can install Ubuntu or Libranet, both are based on Debian, and excellent distros.
Stay away from Deselect and Tasksel. The article on osnews.com is good easy reading, written especially for newbies.

Don't feel bad, Debian is hard at first, it has a steep learning curve, we all went thru that, just follow instructins and read the:

APT-HOWTO
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap.../index.en.html

"I downloaded sarge and ran the install. The install ran fine. I did not install any packages (I did let it scan all 7 CD's to pick up the available packages)."

If you use the sarge net-installer, you forget about the 7 cds, they are obsolete for this installation. Follow instructions to the letter. The 7 cds are for woody, you are now installing sarge. Capisci, paesano?

Repeat this mantra:

"i only need one cd, one cd, one cd..."

The apps you need are in Debian's virtual warehouses in the internet, which will be brought to you, when as root, you ask for them with apt-get.

Thus, the name "net-install", get it?

you don't have the sarge apps in a cd, they are in the air.

still no luck
 

I was able to follow all the instructions. But still I end up with No Screen Found.

The error proceeding this is Assigning device section with no hostID to primary device
(EE) no devices detected.

For fun (yeah lots of fun) I selected VGA and 8 bits and the Xserver started.

Any Ideas on what to try next?

sorry, i'm pretty tired to go thru all the posts, your hardware should have been detected.

Did you install x-window-system with apt-get at the end?

Did you do a:

#dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

yes
 

I ran apt-get install x-window-system after a clean install using sarge.

after that did not work, I used dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree96 to try different settings.

I appreciate all the help. I am picking up lots of info as I do this.

thanks,