How can I store saved apt-get packages to save redownloading them?
 

Hello,

I'm about to install Debian upgrading from Xandros. I know that they use the same package manager "apt-get". My problem is that due to my line being dial-up can I save the downloaded packages like apache, mysql, bitchx to my windows machine as a temp thing then copy them backover after installation and run them.

How can I do this, if possible?

Copy the packages over from /var/cache/apt/archives

I tried doing that comp12345 and it just ended up redownloading them again for me when I reinstalled. (it was the same day so I doubt it was all new). Is there some kind of list file that is supposed to tell apt-get that it's already been downloaded or what? Because I found out how stupid it is to just do dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/* :)

Issue an on the second machine and try using the same sources in /etc/sources.list. What's probably happening is that the list of software packages do not match the versions available in /var/cache/apt/archives. Updating the sources should solve the problem.

I tried doing what anas3712 did too, but it still tried to download the files again. This is after the apt-get update has been done also. Help!

is there a way to install these deb files by themselves?

I don't see why it wouldn't work. Unless Debian packages are not interchangeable with Xandros ones. Check your /etc/sources.list on your second machine to see if they are using the same distribution(i.e stable, testing, unstable). Alternatively, you could try using apt locally by following this tutorial, http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap...g-scanpackages.

use "dpkg -i"

be sure to check out the apt howto:

http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap.../index.en.html

Here's howto save your packages and burn them to a cd to use later;
1. create a new directory called debs
2. copy all the packages from /var/cache/apt/archives to debs
3. from a consol do dpkg-scanpackages debs /dev/null | gzip > debs/Packages.gz
4. Check to see that the Packages.gz has been created in /debs.
5. Burn /debs to a cd
6. when you need the packages for the install specify the cd as the source.

You can read up on this in Chapter 2 - Basic Configuration of the Apt Howto

ahh thanks guys!

Yea I ftp them over to my windows machine but I did it in ascii format rather thab binary so they are all corrupted. :/