I've installed Debian 3.0 with kernel 2.4.18 a few days ago. I've installed everything using the 1st CD due to several problems in former installations. The thing is: I've finally got everything working just fine: soundcard, GPU, x-windows server, KDE, I have internet access and all but I wanted to use apt-get to upgrade the distribution and to install several programs and dodge the dependency problemas I've been having while trying to compile the programs.

I'll cut to the chase: when running "apt-get update" I get
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done

The I tried "apt-get dist-upgrade" and I got
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Calculating Upgrade... Done
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded

I tryied adding repositories to the sources.list and the running "apt-get update" and the same happened. Running aptitude won't help much either. I added openoffice.org to the sources.list and openoffice package didn't appear in the list ok packages.

What's really puzzling me is that I used apt-get in RH9 and there was a file named apt-conf which was in the /etc/apt directory and now it's missing. Reading the APT-HOWTO didn't help me at all as I found no reference to this file (I am looking harder now 'cause I was studying for an Instrumental Analysis midterm).

Here is how my sources.list looks like:
# deb http://security.debian.org/stabe/updates main
# deb http://ftp.freenet.de/pub/debain-openoffice/ woody main contrib
# deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-mrillat/ stable main
# deb ftp://br.debian.org/devian/ stable

and here are the files in my /etc/apt dir:
apt-file.conf
sources.list
sources.list.OLD
sources.list~
apt.conf.d (this one is a directory which contains "70debconf")

OK, that's all I can think of right now. If you need to know something else please tell me. I really can't do anything as all I try to compile gives me dependencies errors due to not updates packages. Thanx a lot

edit: I found it! the d*mned # before the urls where commenting them out. Sorry but I am a newby and I knew if I payed a little more attention to details I would get it right eventually. Again, sorry and I hope this post will be of any help to another noob!

Ok, so you installed Woody/2.4.18, did an apt-get update/dist-upgrade, and Woody said 'everything is fine'.

"I tryied adding repositories to the sources.list and the running "apt-get update" and the same happened. Running aptitude won't help much either. I added openoffice.org to the sources.list and openoffice package didn't appear in the list ok packages."

This is normal, as it should be.

If you want to upgrade your Debian version, you have to edit and CHANGE your sources.list to the version you want to go to.
So far you're in Woody.

In order to do this, you have to change your sources lines from 'stable' to either sarge or sid, save/exit,

#apt-get update
#apt-get dist-upgrade

and don't compile, just use apt-get.

APT-HOWTO
debian.org > Documentation > Manuals > APT-HOWTO

Thanx macondo for your answer. I spotted the problem though... (see edit at the end of the original message)

I read your debien after install guide and the apt-howto and found them very useful. Thanx again for replying the post!!!!