apt-get install synaptic / aptitude install synaptic not working :S
 

Hi guys,

for some reason when I run some of the above mentioned commands I got nothing... what am I doing wrong?

Thx!

(Im trying to install my Ati Sapphire 5850 in Debian Lenny if you ask)

You need to run the command as root.

To use apt, open a terminal and enter su. When the computer asks for a password, enter the root password that was created at time of installation. You can also run apt-get with sudo as "sudo apt-get install [package-name]," if you have set up your sudoers file (Debian does not do that for you since it allows su).

Synaptic is a graphical frontend for apt and should already be present. If you are using "Gnome," I think it's under "Settings-->Administration." When you start Synaptic, it will ask for the root password. You can also run Synaptic from a terminal by su-ing to root and issuing synaptic as a command.

I did all that stuff, even I modified the sudoers file using visudo, no problems at all.

When I use aptitude it says 0 packages found or something like that, when I use apt-get it says that the app Im looking for is not referenced anymore or something weird like that.

Obviously Im doing something wrong, but dunno what exactly.

Is it a new build?
Server or desktop?
Did you run apt-get update?

If you run Debian Lenny Synaptic will not help you to get your HD5850 running, the drivers in Lenny are simply to old for this card. There are two possible solutions to get your card working:

1. Upgrade to Squeeze and then install the drivers from the repository.
2. Install the drivers from AMD's website.

I personally would recommend the first way, because Squeeze soon becomes the new Stable, and because you will get automatic updates for the drivers. If you install the drivers from the website, you have to reinstall them every time you get a kernel-update, or your X will not longer work.

@frndrfoe yes, desktop, yes.

@TobiSGD I see, thx for the clarification. If I decide to choose the option 2 (I already downloaded the .run file) how should I procede?