I went into dselect to try and add packages that it suggested. In doing so I came to the 'Remove' option and ran that. I watched before my eyes as my system removed all the necessary packages that I need and use. I now seem to have a bare system that doesn't understand many commands. I've tried to go back into dselect to re-install everything but now 'apt' has disappeared from my 'access' methods. I can't seem to find any help on the net for this unfortunate situation I find myself. I've also tried using the 'cdrom' as my 'access' option but I can't seem to get that to work (keeps asking for a 'block device name'). I'm in serious trouble with this now. I really need my system back up and running but none of my services (ssh, apache, cups) will run or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

forget dselect use apt or even aptitude/synaptic, reinstalling would help less than a hour with a great connection and if you are not a newbie to configure quickly server, x if you use it, compile a kernel,etc...

I am pretty much a newbie so I'm not quite sure what mrcheeks is saying. I thought the easiest way to re-install all of these packages is use dselect and choose 'select' install 'all packeges'....... but since 'apt' is no longer an access method I don't know what to do. The access method 'cdrom' doesn't appear to read my Debian 3.0r2 disk either. Mrcheeks if one of these methods you are implying is easier then please give me just a bit more info on what to do. Thanks!

if apt is not present and your needed applications are gone..you may need to reinstall..or try booting from the cd and using rescue option??