I went to Debians affiliate website and bought Sarge Debian

The pressed CD-s just arrive today All 14 of them lol

I downloaded Sarge Debian from the Internet about a month ago assuming that all I had to do in order to start using Debian was pop the CD into the CD ROM, answer a few questions then log in but things didn't turn out that way, instead I Had to apt-get stuff like xserver free86 apt-get system core along with a bunch of other commands from a black command prompt just to get Debian to log in to a graphical desktop I cant even remember how I did it lol

So this time I went to Debians affiliate website and bought the 14 set CD package all of them are pressed ( the 14 pack comes with the newest Kernel ) so I'm hoping that I wont have to apt-get everything from the black command prompt like the last time.

I'm not sure If I have to install all 14 CD-s or maybe just 3-4

I would like to dedicate this computer to Debian and would also like a smooth install, I don't want to many unnecessary programs cluttering up the performance of the computer, just a nice desktop for average users nothing too fancy Dan



Do I need to install al 14 cd-s

Is Debian Compatible with KDE


any suggestions about the best way to go about Installing Debian Sarge will be appreciated

Wow man, I read your post about your trials with the initial Sarge install. I feel for ya. I'll tell you exactly where you went wrong though, when it asked to choose a method of updating you said you chose cd, and you should have picked http (or ftp, but http goes a bit quicker.. less commands issued behind the scenes or something like that for the protocol). Then you would have gotten a list to pick from that has stuff like Destop, Server, Development.. can't remember exactly, but different configurations to pick from, and then off it goes for about a half hour doing it's thing and you're up and running. Sarge has the exact same installer as Ubuntu, so it goes exactly the same, except it fetches everything off the net instead of the cd.

Anyway, to answer your questions (those I can), no you won't install everything from all the cd's unless you want to (which isn't likely, nor wise). The cd's contain everything in the Debian repository, so basically, that IS your repository (though after install I would definitely not use them anymore as the apps are quickly being polished up for the upcoming release, and will continue in a bit of a state of flux for a few months until that time). Once you get your basic system set up, you'll want to change your repository settings to the live one to keep up to date (security in this area is critical).

You will have KDE available to install. Not a huge KDE fan myself (don't really dislike it, just prefer Gnome), but it works just fine.

BTW, I gotta ask, what's wrong with Ubuntu? other than it's not a KDE based distro or is that the main reason? Reading your post it would seem that Ubuntu would be an awesome distro for you (nice lean mean and polished desktop oriented distro vs Debian being everything but the kitchen sink server oriented distro). I'm looking to switch to it myself once the next release comes out.

No you don't install all of the cds, what you do do is when aptitude pops up during installation pop in all 14 CDs so that each is recognized, that way if you do need one of the programs on the later CDs you can install them at a later date. What I did for a clean install, was install only the base, kernel upgrade 2.6.8, and Kde 3.2 (with Xserver). Anything I needed from then I installed when I needed it (k3b cd burning for instance). It's all VERY EASY to install using Aptitude (or Kpackage from KDE). You don't really install the CDS perse, just certain programs from each. Most people only need the first 3 (but i have installed programs and source from up to CD 8 (just because that's the last CD I have)

Oh Ubuntu is Awesome I already have it installed on the laptop (which is not working atm long story)

I just wanted to try Debian, I'm using Sarge Debian right now ( The download version with the old 2.4 kernel) Debian is the most stable Linux distro that I've ever used the downloads are fast, very seldom do they ever get disconnected, I like Debian a lot it's not to complicated then again not to Noobish either, I'll be OK once I get used to using Debian, it's just the installation part that I have trouble with. hopefully I wont have the same problems with the Cd's

The only concern that I have right now is with the install

I don't know how many CD-s is need to make a Decent install
14 CD-s thats a lot

All I want is have a desktop that has the basic stuff

I never really cared much for KDE or Open office --- I prefer Gnome for a Desktop and ABI word for a word processor.

I pretty much made this thread to ask how many CD-s I need to install in order to get a decent Desktop

The install will Most likely be different this time because I'm using CD-S to install Debian instead of a ISO download.

With any Luck I wont have to apt-get everything from the command line like I had to do the last time I installed Debian.


Any tips, suggestions on what to expect, How many CD-s to Install 1-2-3-4 6 7 I'm guessing that 3 CD-s should be enough just want to make double cheek and make sure because I will have no connection to the Internet if something gos wrong during the installation.

I don't know if you posted this before you read my post, but the same applies... You do not install all of the cds, what happens is that aptitude will pop-up during the end of installation (sometime around there) and ask you for sources, you just then put all of the CDs in so that you can install from whichever CDs you need software from... In aptitude you can choose all the packages you want. There is a screen before this which asks what app catergories you want to install... You don't need to select any of the check boxes there if you want to select the individual programs you want installed (this is the best way to do it if you want to have a Nice Clean install)

Thanks for the replies
Now I know what I have to do, The last install was rough because well I don't know, I choose to update via HTTP CD ftp, I tried all of those methods and none of them gave me a graphical log in so I came here and asked form members what went wrong someone recommended typing apt-get x server free86 then apt-get window system core then after that start x etc into the Black command prompt after I did that the System booted to a graphical desktop, Gnome, the problem I had with the last installation probably had something to do with the 2.4 Kernel.

Well I'm going install Debian now and see what happens


Thanks again for all the replies


apt-get

I think the only question that begs to be asked now is, since you already have Sarge running, why do you want to reinstall it? It's going to be exactly the same as what you have now, and you really should do all your updates from the current live repository, especially on a non-stable branch, and doubly especially now that there is going to be a flurry of change there for a few months as they put the final polish on it to go stable.

I just now finished installing Debian... I'm kind of sorry that I did because the computer was faster before then it is now.

Web pages shadow when I open and close them, and they also open up to slow, I have a felling that I have to somehow update Debian, is there a command that I can type in to the terminal that will update Debian that will get the bugs out-- I'm looking to install the exact same IRC chat that Ubuntu has but can remember name of the IRC client dose someone happen to know the best IRC chat that is compatible with Debian/Gnome preferable one that I can pat-get. I know someone in the Debian IRC chat that can help me with this problem, I just can't remember the name of the IRC client that I need to install lol--- woshhh

I'm guessing that I might have to update Debian in oder to make things work right, hopefully , the 14- CD were as worthless as tits on a bore hog. I ftp-d everything. The kernel is the old 2.4 all this was nothing but a waste of time guess my main goal right now is to gain access to a IRC this is way I can go to the Debian group and get help from there.

Oh, last night I installed Debian then had to reinstall it all over again just now, I chose to get the apps via CD instead of ftp ( I choose ftp on the last install) then typed startx into the terminal the desktop booted without any apps no command line no application menu nothing just a blue desktop, I didn't even have access to a command prompt so I re installed Debian and got the updates via FPT

When the menu pooped up asking if I wanted to install a desktop environment I chose yes, then after that I had to apt-get x-window-system-core. I wasn't sure if I needed to install gnome or not, so I apt-got and installed gnome maybe I have two desktops installed and the one I chose from the menu in the command like and the one I apt-got I like Debian a lot and would really hate to have to go back to another distro but I might have no other choice but to switch distros if I cant somehow speed things up and stop web pages from shadowing every time I open and close them that plus the web pages loading slow

The ability to choose exactly what you want on your system comes at the cost of having to know exactly what you want on your system. My Debian sarge system runs excellent, and unless I'm doing something high profile it's never eating up more than 200 MB RAM. If you installed, a program called aptitude should have popped up allowing you to choose every individual package you want. (Instead, as I pointed out, of choosing one of those installation menu options for desktop environment). You then can select kernel 2.6.8 or whatever kernel you want. and right off the bat it would have gotten you going with 2.6.8 You have to take a little time when you install Debian, give it some love, carress and stroke it. There are a few basic commands in aptitude you should learn to take advantage of it "/" is to start a search (if you're looking for something to install then use this is the new packages tree, and \ is to search again. g is to install a package = to uninstall. aptitude meets dependencies automatically, so if you get gimp, it will get all the packages you need to run gimp.

If you want my opinion (and even if you don't your going to get it hehe) I think you'd be better off sticking with Ubuntu. I have no idea what's causing your installs to fubar, as I only had to make 2 runs at it (self induced bork up the first time, giving a bad answer for a vid question.. yeah I could have fixed it, but the install didn't take that long, so *bink* reboot). Smooth as butter with the net install, all the way to logging into the gui in well under an hour, no manual gets of *anything* during the install. I then updated my kernel, added my vid driver and tablet driver and everythings been peachy ever since, even through an apt-get dist-upgrade to Sid (other than the normal driver changes neccessary during kernel change).

Anyway, maybe the IRC client you're looking for is XChat, that's my fave. Still consider sticking with Ubuntu, learning it well will give you much insight into the way Debian works (as it is simply a streamlined and optimized version of Debian.. it acts, works and looks 99% just the same as Debian).

Thanks for the replies

The first install wasn't too bad it's just that no one told me that I had to apt-get the system core x server gdm etc to make the PC boot to a graphical desktop, the system is running a lot faster now then it was before just had to change browsers, the Graphics are now better, just had to tweak a few things in X now the only problems that I'm having is with logging in and out. I didn't notice this until last night, but the computer isn't logging in to a graphical desktop, I have to type startx in order to get the PC to boot to a graphical desktop... that plus I don't have an option/menu to turn oFf the computer just Log- Out -- when I log out the PC gos back to the black command prompt then a message comes up saying that x is shutting down.... I'll wait for like 5 minutes and nothing happens leaving me no other choice but to push the button on the CPU to turn off the computer.

I wish this.. aptitude menu would pop up so I would be able to get ride of this old kernel, auto detect- detects most of my hardware so I really don't have that much to configure

2.4 didn't automatically boot to GUI as I recall, type aptitude at the command prompt and you should have 2.6.8 and 2.6.9 on your CDs, that should take care of that.

As root look in your /etc/inittab file for the line

# The default runlevel.

Make sure the next line is...

id:2:initdefault:

if not, change it. That *should* get you into a graphical environment on boot. If not we'll look deeper. Do you have either GDM or KDM installed?

NOTE: Make SURE you have a backup of that file, because if you bork it you might be screwed!

No. Bad. Do not hit the big red switch except in case of emergency. Type...

shutdown -h now

to shut the system down. It sounds like you do not have either GDM or KDM installed. Install one or the other (GDM if your partial to Gnome, KDM if your partial to KDE, though either works fine either way)

Install Synaptic..

apt-get install synaptic

that will give you a nice gui to install software with.

Cool
I needed to install GDM ( I'm using Gnome )

I always just recently found out that one of the reasons why I was having trouble with certain features was because I attempted to upgrade the 2.4 kernel that I'm using now with the newer 2.68 Kernel... Turned out that the New 2.68 kernel doesn't support Nvidia so I un installed Debian, again still didn't get a graphical desktop, came back here read the message that said to install GDM-- I installed GDM now everything is working dang near perfect.

G D M -- I would have never known , thanks for the reply