Hi Everyone, I recently became interested in the Linux / open source area - so I have been trying to get my other computer up and running.

My other system was all formatted and Ive installed Debian on to it. But I am having trouble going anywhere from there.

I have seen all lots of websites about a graphical interface but I cannot get anything like that - I am stuck in a very confusing command prompt type atmosphere.
I know I know I need to install something like "gnome" ?

But I cannot edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list
When I am logged into the root with the system password it still says I am denied.

If anyone can help me or point me to some good resources on the web that would be wonderful. I have spent quite sometime trying to get it going / looking for help.

Thanks a lot!

You'll have to be a little clearer about exactly what is happening, but it sounds to me like you should start over. If you are really logged on as root, you will be "denied" nothing. Also, I don't really understand what you mean by "system was all formatted and Ive installed Debian on to it"

First installs notoriously go bad, and you have undoubtedly learned enough to do a better job if you try again. Get the Etch net installer, insert the .iso from this link, and give it another try. Tell the installer to use the entire hard drive. It'll take care of your formatting.

Here's a slideshow of the installation screens.

Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 -- Installation Manual
http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual

I second the netinstall method works great and is very simple to do.
Debian -- Network install from a minimal CD
http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/

All the official Debian documentation in one place:
Debian -- Documentation
http://www.debian.org/doc/

Sorry for my lack of clarity - I had used the full CD install before. I am now downloading the "netinst CD image" i386, and we'll give that a try.

I will format my harddrive again so there is nothing on it, then insert the CD and run through the installation.
Thanks for the reply - hopefully I can get this going again!

Once I have Debian installed how to a go about getting a graphical desktop loaded?

Thanks for your help.

With any kind of luck, it'll be there when the install is finished. Look toward the end of the slideshow I linked above.

apt-get install gnome-desktop-environment x-window-system xserver-xorg gdm
that should get you started off right

if you need to edit the sources list nano /etc/apt/sources.list