to get the gui up in debian type:

if you are running srage (stable)

su
your root password
apt-get install x-window-system xserver-xfree86 kde (if you are wanting a kde desktop) OR (dont type this bit) gnomedesktopenviroment (if you want a gnome desktop)

if you are using tsting (etch) then do the same but replace xserver-xfree86 with xserver-xorg

wait a while then it will ask you to set up the xserver all you ahve to do is tell it your launguage most of it should be ok with its default then choose the right driver for your graphcs if you have no idea choose vesa this will work with all graphics card/chips.

all this then should get you a gui up and running in debian, next time you start it will load up into a graphiphical log in screen.

Thanks for all the info and I am working on your suggestions but can anyone give me a link to an all-in-one download that will include the GUI and nay other neccessary things so I won't have to immediately go out and get them now. I have successfully burned two different ISO images with successul setups. I really want to get Linux up and going so I can experiment with it and then download other parts as I go along. Hope this makes sense.

Since you have the CD burned already you might just start the install over, and watch for where in the install it asks if you want the system to boot into graphical mode, and where it sets up the graphics card and monitor. You are very close to making this work, and since you have done the install once, doing it again should be easier then getting a whole new distro.

Some more user-friendly distros are Umbuntu and Vector Linux, in case you want to start with something different. Damn Small Linux is fun, easy to install, and only 50megs to download.

Good luck.

C

I will work on your suggestions but in the mean time is there a link to a package that has EVERYTHING I need including a GUI that I can download and install (maybe as an ISO image I can burn to CD)that will get me up and running now? Thanks.

At what point in the reinstall will I look for it to ask me about a boot into graphical mode?

Try this:

Go here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Click on one of the "United States" links, and then click this file:
ubuntu-5.10-install-i386.iso

It is about a 650meg download. That is the current Ubuntu. It has everything. It looks alot like an Apple interface (not much like MS Windows), but it is very easy to install and configure. It will almost certainly boot up into a GUI the first time, unless you have a strange video card or monitor.

Do not get discouraged. Debian is probably not the easiest distro to install. Come back and let everyone know how it goes. Good luck.

C

Thanks all. I used the Ubuntu 5.1 i386 and all went great. Now I guess I start the task of finding more software. Any thoughts on places to find it? Again, thanks for all the help.