Help installing Debian Sarge

ctkroeker · 07-01-2005, 08:53 PM

I want to install Debian Sarge on my PC with the following specs:
512MB ram
2.26Ghz proc.
128MB graphics
80GB Hard drive.
200Kb Internet connection

I figure I will use the following partition table:
1GB Swap
2-3GB Debian
70GB Media
Rest, unpartitioned for a later gentoo install.

1)- Now what do you recommend, should I do the "floppy install", or the "net install"?

2)- Is the partition table as I have it fine?

3)- Do I need a manual to install debian? Or can I just follow instructions from the install itself (like Xandros, Ubuntu, etc.)?

Any help is appreciated.

Pcghost · 07-01-2005, 08:58 PM

I would up the amount dedicated to Debian, to at least 5GB. If I had that drive I would probably give it 10GB. Keep in mind that /home can quickly fill up especially if your system has more than one user. You could solve that by setting /home on its own partition.

The documentation from debian.org, along with searching this forum, should do you fine. If you get stuck on something search here, and if you don't find what you are looking for, post a question. It's not as hard as it seems.

Tons of Fun · 07-01-2005, 09:22 PM

I have only done a net install, but I do like it. Debian is not as hard to install as it's reputation leads one to believe. If you run into trouble, you've got this site for help. I also would make /home it's own partition.

Good Luck

ctkroeker · 07-01-2005, 09:31 PM

Ok, how's this:

1GB Swap
6GB Debian
3GB /home (documents, stuff, etc.)
60GB Media (Movies, Music, Backup)
10GB Gentoo

husnos · 07-02-2005, 01:28 AM

well............gentoo will need its own /home partition, unless I guess you use to different usernames....one for each distro

as for debian or gentoo........i recommend 10G for each

killy9999 · 07-02-2005, 03:06 AM

I have 80GB drive for Debian and it's set up like this:
/ - 10 GB
swap - 200MB
/home - 5,8 GB
/media - 61GB

I have P3@500Mhz, 384MB RAM.

1GB swap partition is definitely too big, I would consider not using the swap at all. And about 4,5GB for home.

ctkroeker · 07-02-2005, 10:31 AM

Ok, so I booted up the CD and it does not autodetect my CD-RW/DVD drive. weird. How do I get it to mount the drive?
And when it asks how to boot up, should I judt hit enter? or something else?
Also do I need the Intrnet connection to install it right from the beginning? or can I just pug it in afterwards?
Help!

ctkroeker · 07-02-2005, 01:03 PM

Help me please! I want to get it installed before the sun goes down.

killy9999 · 07-02-2005, 01:41 PM

Then what you are waiting for?

Just go with the install, it's not that hard. Your cd-rom should be autodetected (otherwise you'll have to edit /etc/fstab). You can plug in the internet connection after the instalation.

Tons of Fun · 07-02-2005, 02:03 PM

Make sure you have your CD rom selected as your first boot device in your bios.

ctkroeker · 07-03-2005, 07:31 AM

Ok I got it installed, but now it only runs on the command line, without any form of GUI. I installed KDE(took forever to download, all night) but still no GUI.
What can I do to make it load kde? and automatically later to?
Help!

Tons of Fun · 07-03-2005, 07:39 AM

At the command line, after you log in, type startx. If that doesn't work, then you need to install the x window system. Don't worry, it's not hard to do. Let us know if startx works.

ctkroeker · 07-03-2005, 07:41 AM

I tried startx a couple of times, then it says there is no such file or directory.

Tons of Fun · 07-03-2005, 08:02 AM

OK, no problem. Make sure you are logged in as root, and type apt-get install xserver-xfree86 xfree86-common. That should install everything you need to run a gui. I do not know if it will automatically launch the configuration utility or not. If not, then type dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86. You can then configure your graphics. One thing to know, if you do not know which video drivers to select, then choose VESA. It is the common driver and seems to work just about every time. After all of that, then log out as root, and then try startx again. Post any new errors you might come across along the way.

Good luck

ctkroeker · 07-03-2005, 02:55 PM

Tried everthing that was segusted(thanks), but could not get it to work, spent hours on it.
Crazy dependncies, you get rid of something, then some other thing does not work.
I am fed up with debian. I think I'll forget it for now and go with gentoo.
Who knows, maybe I'll try it again when I feel like it. Wish it had better documentation, not that there is not enough, just not organized well.
see you around.