im about 2 install Debian 2.2r2....and i just want to know after i install it how do i get it to start with the graphical user log in screen...like red hat has....

and also does anyone know if this version of debian supports my riva tnt2 model 64 and my via ac97 sound card...

Basically if you want to auto start in X, just edit your /etc/inittab file to start in runlevel 5. At least I believe its runlevel 5 in Debian. The runlevels will be defined in the inittab file.

About the video and sound, first check out www.xfree86.org for support details on your card, its not the distro but the version of xfree86 that you should worry about. And the sound, there have been many discussions on that particular sound card and getting it to work in Linux, search the site for it and it should turn up many times..

thanks very much but im such a newbie....explain how to edit that file

You would use one of the terminal text editors, there are a billion. Pico,Vi,VIM,Joe,emacs...

Pick one that your system has, and type (example):
pico /etc/inittab

Then you would scroll through the file looking for a line that looks something like 'init:3:default' and change the 3 to a 5. In the same file you will also be able to find out if 3 and 5 are the run levels that you should be changing it to/from.

Does that help?

Personally I would just install the base system from your 2.2 (potato) CD and then upgrade to Woody (the version that will be released soon). The reason I suggest that you do this is that 2.2 will be obselete very soon, and the software that comes with it is ancient. E.g. XFree86 is version 3.3.6 rather than XFree86 4.1 in Woody, and you will have a lot more trouble configure XF3 than XF4.

However, it would probably be much simpler for you if you simply download the Woody boot-disks - more info here. You will also want to read the installation manual - Debian isn't for the faint-hearted, but is delightful to use if you can be bothered to read the documentation (some people unfortunately can't).

Where can I download a text editor like vi except one that shows what line number the cursor is presently at? I used to have a Wyse 60 terminal and it would display what line number I was at and at what character postion in the line.

Thanks,
Mike

Ooops. I know... :set number and Vi display numbers...duh.

Mike S.