how do i use apt-get to upgrade my sytem to all the latest software. I've done apt-get upgrade. But i still have mozilla 1.0 and an old gnome (i think 2.2).

do i need to add to any config files?? I want to upgrade to testing i think. Does testing have the latest gnome and mozilla, libraries etc.?

AFAIK, before running (all commands as ROOT) an

# apt-get upgrade

it is necessary to run an

# apt-get update

Try this. It won't do any harm.

In any case, if you really want to go for a fully-fledged distro. update, do

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

I have just upgraded my installation with the previous commands, downloading 400+ MB, and it worked smooth as silk.

If none of these works, the most usual explanation is that your system is pointing towards older Debian repositories (remember Sid / Unstable, Sarge / Testing, Woody / Stable, and so on).

Good luck

edit /etc/apt/sources.list. Here's mine: Use a local mirror if possible:

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main non-free contrib
deb http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US unstable/non-US main contrib non-free

This will point you to the Sid/Unstable tree. apt-get update will freshen your packages archive (what you browse with apt-cache search.

Then:
apt-get dist-upgrade

will move your box up two releases. I do not recommend this for servers. It works 99% of the time without problems for desktops. Occasionally a package in unstable will get messed up and in a few days the maintainer will fix the problem.

HTH

thanks fellas