If you want to get Debian up and running as fast as possible, you should try Mepis, Kanotix, or the free version of Libranet first. After you've had some experience in running a Debian system, you can try Sarge again. Configuring a pure Debian system is still a bit "geeky" stuff and may not be suitable for all Linux newbies.

Hi dead parrot
I rekon you are right it was a tough one I felt like I was mooving from window to linux all over again

I will try this distribution next ...

I have used RH8 for a while and tried slackware 10 and koppix
but so far I feel most comfortable with my MDK 10
I know Debian is the best so I will get there eventually .
The problem is that I have lot of work at present and need my system up fully running with all my apps apache mysql php etc etc Si I am going to set up a test machine soon so that I can work paralell ..

thatnks a lot for you comment

have a great day
phil

You could try the following steps:
1. start X server by typing:
X
(X loads and you should see black screen)
2. when you can go back to command line by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1, Ctrl+Alt+F2, ...
3. launch from free console kde by typing:
export DISPLAY=:0.0
startkde
4. go back to X by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F7
I hope this works.

Did u try just typing

X

at the command prompt, instead of startx. altho i use Redhat, i once had this problem when startx did not work but just typing X worked perfectly.

BTW,hav u properly installed the X bare necessities.......

The package that contains startx is "xbase-clients". xbase-clients should be installed automatically when you use apt to install the "x-window-system" package.

Did you say you were getting unmet dependencies when you typed "apt-get x-window-system"? Deal with that first. Is your /etc/apt/sources.list set up correctly to get packages from Testing, and only Testing?

Just to say that I finally got all this sorted out now and thank everybody who put me on the right track
I have switched to debian now and am really happy with it (even switched to gnome from kde)
Im just getting the hang of it I now and I never realised what a real working system was like.
Im just having a little thing with my ISDN connection staying alive .

Happy new year!