Kind of a newbie
 

Since I have used Linux before, but it has been so many years now, I guess that makes me an almost newbie.
Anyway I have a few questions.
Since I started years ago and did the Slackware thing around in 93 or so, I had a book that was really good for beginners, I can not find it now. It was a small blue thinish paper back, just wondering if anyone knows the author and where I could find another one?
I'm getting ready to install the latest version of Debian on a desk top. I'm curious if it needs to know the display monitor spec's like most distro's need? Can you just use what ever monitor you want after the install? If not how do you configure that? Thank you all, and I'm sure I will have more questions.

Hello.

We are all newbies some days in linux I'd guess. New stuff happens every day.

Pretty much long gone are the days of making line by line entries for your video card and monitor.

Most distro's are made to a target audience and target hardware. For the most part if you meet the distro's requirements you should have it pretty easy using the distro's installer.

From the description you give, this might be the book: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Sys...administration

No that is not the book. I think the fellow that authored the book might have known Linus Torvalds, if not he was one of the very first to fiddle with Linux.
How long will it take for the administrator to check out my first post on the Debian forum? I wanted to start installing but need some questions asked first.

I would like to say this is the best functioning website I've seen.

You should be able to post away.

There are some ways to search public library databases maybe. I'd bet not one would say the author might have known Linus Torvalds. Might be easier to search by years.

When I posted in the Debian forum, it said the administrator needed to review it before its posted. I know not supposed to double post but I may have to put it here so someone can see it.

Things have moved on a heck of a lot since 93; i wouldn't look too hard for that book.
There are plenty of more up to date ones plus millions of articles on the web these days.

This is a good book for the cli : http://rlworkman.net/howtos/rute/

See here https://www.linuxtopia.org/ for more books/manuals (free to read) than you could possibly read.

Other than that, ask qns here or at the home sites for the relevant distro/app.

The Book ? I had tons of good notes in it for the various directory's and command line stuff, it was very well written, easy to follow, unlike all the new books, fast to find stuff etc.
So during set up for [debian-9.4.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso] if I choose all or most desktops what one will it default too and how to run the others? Do I turn on my printer during set up? Will I be able to use any monitor and not worry about refresh rates etc during set up? How to just run and start with out gui in Debian? How to shut it down in gui? Is it still
shutdown /now ?? or what ever from root in terminal?

if i was you i'd go with the defaults during installation, and try to get it working that way first.
debian has a very advanced package management system and related tools (tasksel...). getting to know that will be your most important task.

almost definitely YES.
things have really changed a lot since early slackware days!
don't worry about hardware until you need to.

Yes ? Any monitor?

i think my phrasing was clear.
if you have reason to believe that your very specific very special monitor won't work, why don't you tell us more about it?
heck, why don't you just try it? you will see if the install fails or not...

Sorry I was a bit frustrated with this install since my cd drive would not eject when I needed it. Anyway I got the install done and looks like your right I'm just thinking the old days. No special monitor they are both HP's just different sizes, so all should be good. I had to go with a one cd install so will need to add the rest of the packages later.
Now its time to learn linux all over again.

The installer will also install a so-called display manager. It'll allow you to choose the desired desktop environment to run before login. No matter what default the installer chooses, you should be able to change it to your liking in said display manager.

I don't think it matters. You can setup printers after install.
There will be a shutdown button in the menu similar to other OSes. in a root terminal also gets the job done.

Slackware has advanced since 1993, so you may like to give it a try as well as Debian. See which you prefer.

Still haven't found the actual book, but I did find it online. "Linux Installation and Getting Started" By Matt Welsh
I've got a couple of the Sam's books years ago, they are horrible for simple and fast.
So my next problem will be how to load the other 2 Debian dvd's on the system? And then will it automatically configure the other desk tops ? I was happy when the system went on line and the sound worked on youtube, I'm not thrilled with the gnome desk top though.