X question

[YeNotGuilty]

Where might I find the base for X so as I can install something like Gnome on top of it (or is it not necessary?)

I ask because I use(d) a bare-bones floppy install of Debian and the startx command (i found in my Linux for Dummies book) which should start X if installed did not work. therefore, X did not come with my system.

Also, do I need to download Gnome onto the machine itself (e.g. make apt-get download it) or can I d/l it on another machine and put it on disk (thereby not requiring me to have my laptop connected to the Internet while another computer is)?

[Hayl]

did you install X? it's not installed by default.

if you apt-get install gnome, you wil get gnome and X

[YeNotGuilty]

I didn't have the option to install X...as I said:
I am installing a downloaded floppy-based Debian install...i figure its pretty much bare-bones because all I can get is a command line (i tried startx like my Dummies book said to and nothing worked, so bleh on it)

ok...now I just have to get dual-booting down with the cruddy disks I got from Best Buy with my laptop (wish the damned QuickRestore CD let you partition your HDD but no, all it does is wipe it then reformat it into one big old drive)

otherwise i have to use the Operating System CD I got which installs nothing but Winblows XP Home (no drivers or nothin) so I can't use a modem or 3D card unless I go d/l the drivers or find a disk that contains them. I could do that but I would like the ability to resort to actually USING winblows should I goof up my Debian installation and I can't use an OS that has no drivers for any of my internal peripherals.

Anyway, I couldn't install X while installing Debian, and I couldn't even find it on the update CD i accidentally downloaded instead of the original ISO like I wanted to...

maybe once I get dual-booting down I'll get Debian to apt-get gnome...might be simpler than trying to throw my comp off the highway, anyway ^_^

Thx!

[GaryJones32]

that's pretty cool
the thing you have there with debian is "Apt"
this is the last time you will have to install the debian core
from now on debian can update itself and instal everything you need over the internet
woohoo !!!!!!!!
ok i don't use debian anymore but i used to so hopefully i can get you started.
the first thing i would try is look at /etc/apt/sources.list
and see if it's setup to use the net
copy this and use it if yours is not remotely like this

# See sources.list(5) for more information

#Debian
deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian woody main contrib non-free
deb-src ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian woody main contrib non-free

#Debian Non-US
deb http://non-us.debian.org/ woody/non-US main contrib non-free
deb-src http://non-us.debian.org/ woody/non-US main contrib non-free

#Debian security updates
deb ftp://security.debian.org/debian-security stable/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src ftp://security.debian.org/debian-security stable/updates main contrib non-free


now if you can get on the internet just type
apt-get update
then say you want to install x type
apt-cache search xserver
then look for the one that fits your video card
(if you get it wrong you can try again and it will change it)
then type
apt-get install xserver-whatever

to get on the internet debian has scripts to set up everything
try (i think)
dpkg -l
to see what's installed so far
if you have wvdial type
dpkg --configure wvdial
to get the config menu
i can't remember the other dialup packages (possibly pppconfig is on there)
debian takes a while to get used to but is very cool ! have fun