I read the very verbose debian install and followed the directions for a successful install.

My questions pertains to the last paragraph:
How do I change or disable this?

I really don't want to go straight into the GUI.

I used the download cd ISO method of install
Debian 3.0 stable. I guess this means "Woody"
What command would you use to find the version of Debian ?

Thanks

Errm, what do you want ? Straight to a gui login or not ?

Cheers,

mj

If you use xdm, first do: update-rc.d xdm remove
then do: update-rc.d xdm start 99 5 . stop 01 0 1 2 3 4 6 .

Then change the default runlevel in /etc/inittab to what you prefer
# The default runlevel.
id:5:initdefault:

5 is GUI but if you want just CLI set it to 3

mjrich...following the boot process, xdm runns presenting a login screen. I didn't want to automatically boot directly to a gui login screen. I wanted to boot to the traditional command line.

I wanted the option of either staying at the command prompt or type startx for GUI.

makuyl...I am half way there. I folowed your instructions. Two things now occur.

1. The RED boot loader show up with
- Linux
- Linux (hda1)

-Linux (hda1) fails
-Linux gets me to a command prompt.

2. If I try to invoke the GUI (windowmaker) it is completely hosed. The screen is black with the exception of a efw desktop icon. The cursor is a 1" white block...which does move around when I move the mouse.

Will simply reinstalling windowmaker fix the 2nd problem ?

Apolagies - I misread your original post.

I've never heard of the RED boot loader, so can't offer any help on why the second option fails. Presumably you were able to see the Xdm login manager before, so your XF86Config-4 is ok. Now that you've removed Xdm, how are you starting X ? startx, or some other login manager that then calls the X session ?

Regarding the default installation branch, you can use:Cheers,

mj

How does your ~/.xinitrc look like?
I don't use wmmaker but for me it looks like:
#!/bin/sh
exec /usr/bin/startxfce4

I have no idea either what the RED thingy is. Lilo? Grub?
Can you post the append lines for the kernel that isn't working now?

For now you should get GUI with: sudo init 5

mjrich...no apologies neccesary. I appreciate "anybody's" help

The Red GUI thingy is actual the LILO Boot Loader. Under the terminal menu is a command line prompt boot:

Once I select Linux [vs Linuxhda1)], the system appears to boot fine. I don't see any error messages. Booting ceases with the debian login command prompt for uid/password. Normal stuff.

Originally I saw the xdm login manager. Now that I removed xdm, to get into X, I type startx. This is where the "windowmanager/GUI/desktop" is the problem.

I don't have an apt.conf file.
I do have a apt.conf.d folder.
Inside the folder is a file called 70debconf

I tried to find the file using "locate apt.conf" ... ng

makuyl...thanks as well

I cannot find a ".xinitrc file
Red gui thing explained above.
How do I "post the append lines for kernel", not sure what your asking for.

I thought this was what you wanted. A login shell instead of straight to GUI.

If you don't have .xinitrc you can create one with the following lines in it:
#!/bin/sh
exec wmaker

That would bypass xdm and take you straight to desktop.
For it to work you need to do: chmod +x .xinitrc

Note that I don't actually use wmaker so you could do a "locate wmaker" to see if it has any start script.

BTW, you didn't remove xdm. It just starts on runlevel 5 only now.