I just installed Debian using the following disc:

Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 r0a "Sarge" - Official i386 Binary-1 (Network Install)

I installed it and the only thing I can access is the Unix terminal. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Unix or it's commands so I don't know what the hell to do. How do I manage do get install KDE or Gnome on my system (or at least get X Window to run)? Can I still access debian's ftp site to download any more material that I need? What can I do in this situation?

I know these are very newbie-ish questions but I am this is the only time I've dealt with Linux (aside from Knoppix).

Hi there,

Login as root and type startx

That should do it.

If you want a graphical login manager try reinstalling Debian. When it gets to the screen where you select what software suites to install, press <SPACE> to select the "Desktop Workstation" suite. This will install GNOME, KDE, a bunch of GUI applications, and a graphical login manager (gdm).

If you pressed <ENTER> at that screen, then you got none of that.

Ahh. that might just save me (I did press enter). Cheers mate.

Ok, I got it to work and I configured almost everything but I can't get the sound to work. How do I edit the modules (/etc/modules) file to add my sound driver to the list? I try to edit but it says that only the root can edit and I can't log in through the root in Debian's login.

log in as a normal user then su or sudo to get root permissions

That's good help. I see the terminal prompt a few commannds...

But what do I do from there? I normally use the default text editor to open the file...is there a way in there term to edit?

Again, sorry to be a such newbie

well, you can use nano(easier for newbies), vi, vim, emacs, or you could launch whatever text editor you prefer from the terminal. Just type gedit or whatever and it will launch it as root

Ok, I was able to edit...and I added the following text at the end

snd-ac97 (Linux showed me the sound card as Intel AC'97/ I-810, but it's actually crystal sound.)

But it still doesn't load. When I load Knoppix on this machine, I don't seem to have this problem...



Edit: FYI, I am running this on an IBM T23 laptop with "Crystal WDM Audio" (according to what WIndows says). I also keep getting a small X cursor on my screen for the first 5 minutes after my OS loads. I know it's a mouse cursor because I have seen it on KDE in Knoppix.


Thanks everyone for the help so far

try
modprobe snd-ac97
or it actually might be
modprobe snd-ac97-codec

It says it can't locate the module

try modprobe intel8x0

same problem

do you get an error or just no sound?

Actually, I finally got it to work.
I ran the following in the root terminal:
modprobe i810_audio

Now, I will add it to the modules file.

Thanks for the help (bosewicht and antiloaded). I can finally say I've sucessfully installed debian on this notebook.

Once again, thanks and cheers.

-d

OK, sorry to bother again, but I would like to have this answered.

Is it possible to install Alsa on my system (considering the fact that I use i810_audio for sound)? I've been trying to install it but my gstreamer-properties shows that OSS is the only sink available.