Yesterday I tried all afternoon to install Woody. It kept hanging on certain files calling them corrupt, and would stop the install. I verified the iso was good with the MD5, I increased the size of the /boot partition, and even removed the /boot and booted into the / partition. No luck.
Finally I tried the Sarge net install. It installed flawlessly, except when I type in startx, it cannot find the files. I did not see any setting during the install to set the video, but I am new to this, and might have missed something. My question is how to I get either gnome or KDE GUI up and running? I tried various apt-get commands, but could not figure it out. I also ran base-command, but did not see any settings for gnome or KDE desktops. I want to be able to use the GUI, probably gnome, but want the machine to continue booting into the text login screen. As yesterday, any help is greatly appreciated as I am very anxious to start learning linux.

Thanks

at some point of the installation you where to select which packages you want to be installed on your system. you can check if you have X11 installed by "dpkg -s x-window-system" if not -
edit you ~/.xinitrc file and put startkde at the bottom for example, then startx

I did this today on my laptop, the easy was is to make sure you're online and then type these commands in this order:

apt-get install kdm
apt-get install x-window-system
apt-get install kdebase

Thank y'all for your help. I am sitting here enjoying gnome on the Sarge distro. I do have one more question, how do I set the system up to boot to the test screen. If I need gnome, I will use startx. I know there is a setting in a file, but I do not remember the file or the setting. Again, thanks for the help. I am already loving linux.

By test screen do you mean just plain X11 with TWM? If that's what you mean, type "xdm" at the prompt without X running then login.

I'm sorry, bad typing. I meant text screen. I want Linux to boot into the text screen and I'll use startx if I want the GUI.

just remove kdm, xdm or gdm whichever you have installed
apt-get remove kdm
when you reboot, you will be at a login screen. login and then type startx whenever you want to get in to a gui

Right now I am using gnome. So if I remove gnome with apt-get remove gnome, and then type startx at the command prompt, it will still open gnome?

no, you need to do exactly what he said.. remove gdm, kdm, or xdm.. whichever is installed..

gdm, kdm and xdm are the login managers. if they are not installed you will boot to a command line interface. if you remove gnome, gnome will not load when you type startx

OK, that makes sense. How do I find out which login manager I am running?

if kdm is started it looks like kde, gdm looks like gnome
but if you boot up to a command line, login and type either kdm or gdm. if one starts and the other doesnt, you will know

you can also do the apt-get remove kdm, or apt-get remove gdm and then you will know

I cannot thank you guys enough. I removed gdm, and now it boots into the text screen like I want it to. I entered startx, and gnome came up just fine.
Last weekend I was running Red Hat 7.2, which is a bit outdated. I looked at Fedora, but it seemed too much like Windows which I am trying to pry away from. And tonight I am running Debian Sarge, and it is getting set up like I want it to. I am also learning a lot by all of your help and going through the different questions in this forum.
I am completely amazed at how quick Linux users are to help out. It not only helps newbies like myself get into Linux easier and quicker, but sparks an excitement in this OS that you do not find with others (when have you ever found someone completely excited about a Windows OS). I am really looking forward to continue learning this outstanding OS, applying my networking skills I have learned with Windows, and start helping others when they need it.
Thanks again for the help!

sure thing, just remember to give back what you have gained. we were all newbies here at one point and someone has helped us out way back when. ive learned a lot in a year and a half here

glad everything works to your liking. you picked the right distro!