I am so confused about something. After doing an advanced install of Debian, and selecting the "Install graphical interface" option. I am now in command line logged in as root but when I type things like:
# startx
# apt-get install x-windows-system
They do not work. "Unable to locate package x-windows-system" and similar for startx.

In general, where does this apt-get look? Why do so many packages not work? These are the two things that HAVE worked.
# apt-get update
# apt-get upgrade

Thanks guys, I know this is probably pathetic.

If you want to install a package you should make sure that the actual package exists. Debian has no package x-windows-system, simple as that.
If you really have installed the graphical environment the system should automatically into the GUI, also startx would work. Which error-messages exactly do you get?

root@debiantestbed:/# startx
bash: startx: command not found

By saying that I already installed the Graphical User Interface during advanced install options, I just meant that I assume I did because of the option I checked. Then it went through about 5 minutes of installing and said successful. I chose GNU instead of Lilo. Am I on track? Thanks this is so helpful to actually refer to a human about this instead of the broad, inconsistent, google.

If you have done a standard installation you should have a GUI, but the missing of startx indicates that you don't have one. To install the standard desktop launch the command This will take a while. If you now restart the system you should get a graphical login.

Sidenote: It is never a good idea to work as root in a graphical environment.

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