I am installing a 2 cd Debian 3 OR1 from a PC magazine as follows
Mount /dev/hda1 as root filesystem
Install kernel and drive module
Configure device drive module
Instal the base system
Make system bootable
/dev/hda: Install LILO in the MBR
Make boot floppy Reboot with CD 1
LILO 22.2 loading
Found 1 package indexes and 0 source index
apt is now configured
run tasksel and marked off: x windows system/desktop environment/dial up system/games/debian jnr
Skipped dselect
The following new package will be installed. Unpacking and selecting various programs
Kernel link failure info. You may experience problems linking older kernels.............with this version of binutils. Edit the linked scrip....arch/i386/vm linux.lds and remove.....Press ok
Configure nfs-common.......Dial up network
Selecting and unpacking various programs
reboot to Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 debian ttyl
Log in
Debian:#
This is as far as I get. Would somebody please explain what is next, shouldn't I be getting a screen by now. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Jim

All is OK. Debian is installed (as i think); Type: tasksel to select tasks to install (if You forgot something); IF You have installed and configured X windows system try to run for example kdm: /etc/init.d/kdm start and then log on. (You must have installed kde for it); You can try the same with gdm and xdm. If it work set it to start each time You boot up your Linux: ln -s /etc/init.d/kdm /etc/rc2.d/S99kdm (if there is no kdm.); You can try reconfiguring X if You did it wrong: dpkg-reconfigure XFree86 (of X or something; try packages name...);

Cya, bla.

you can try running 'startx' at the prompt, but you probably need to set up you GUI first. If you run startx, and it doesn't do anything, hit <ctrl><alt><backspace> to exit it. Then run:

xf86cfg -textmode

This will bring up a menu for configuring your card and video. Afterwards, try startx again.

Also, dselect is a way you can install packages, so to do more than the basics, you'll probably want to play with that a little too.

Thanks bla and Scott_R for your replies.
I have tried your suggestions, but get "no such directory" with kdm,gdm or xdm.
I also tried dpkg-reconfigure xfree86 and get "xrfrww86 is not installed and no info available."
Could you please help with the dpkg-deb command. In help it gives........dpkg-deb -(there is c something next for contents, but I cannot make out what it is. I have tried...I and capital L and small l. The line I refer to is: dpkg-deb -c(something)--contents <deb>........Lists contents.
I also tried running xf86cfg-textmode but command not found

tasksel; Tun tasksel and select X and KDE.

Thanks bla. I tried that and am getting all sorts of errors. I will start all over again and let you know how I get on

Ok, i'm on vacations from about 2 hours but I will check answers...
You can contact me with bla@wants.direct-support.com or on irc: #LinuxPL -> IRCNet if You like.

Good Luck, and good bye.

bla