problem installing debian distro-GUI?

[whatsmyname]

I just built a new computer and intented to install debian on it.
I have installed it using the minimal installation cd and have used apt get to install kde (apt-get install kde) and the x window system(apt-get install x-window-system). My problem is I can't get a gui to show up. If anyone knows how to start the GUI, I would gladly appreciate it.

[techieMoe]

Do you get errors when you type startx at the command prompt? If so, what errors?

[budman7]

Have you tried "startx"?
If so, do you get any errors?

It is possible you may have to create a .xinitrc file.

su into root
nano .xinitrc
put one line in to this file

exec startkde

Hit Ctrl + x to quit and save.
Type "exit" to get back to your normal user, and then try "startx" again.

[whatsmyname]

Yeah, I tried startx
result:
XI0: fatal IO error 104 (Connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0"
after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

[bryansmith]

Are you trying to run it as root? Have you configured X with xorgconfig?

Bryan

[whatsmyname]

budman: after trying your suggestion, it gives me the same error screen

brayansmith: yes I am using root, but I dont know what xorgconfig is

thanks all for your replies

[antidrugue]

Debian Sarge does not use "xorg", it uses xfree86

If there is a problem, just type (as root):

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

And configure it correctly...

The file that is important here is /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

[whatsmyname]

while going through the configuration, It tells me I need to specify the BusID of the video card. my card is an nvidia GeForce 6200 on an 8x agp slot. I'm not quite sure what it is looking for in terms of format, which has examples, but none are agp.

[bryansmith]

Debian Sarge does not use "xorg", it uses xfree86

I forgot about that, thanks for pointing that out.

Also, don't be root when attempting to start X.

Bryan

[antidrugue]

Anyway in normal circonstance you shouldn't have to specify the BusID, nor the video card identifier.

For the driver, just choose "nv". You're /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file should look something like that in the end:

Section "Files"
        FontPath        "unix/:7100"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load    "GLcore"
        Load    "bitmap"
        Load    "dbe"
        Load    "ddc"
        Load    "dri"
        Load    "extmod"
        Load    "freetype"
        Load    "glx"
        Load    "int10"
        Load    "record"
        Load    "speedo"
        Load    "type1"
        Load    "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Generic Keyboard"
        Driver          "keyboard"
        Option          "CoreKeyboard"
        Option          "XkbRules"      "xfree86"
        Option          "XkbModel"      "pc104"
        Option          "XkbLayout"     "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"
        Driver          "mouse"
        Option          "CorePointer"
        Option          "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"
        Option          "Protocol"              "ImPS/2"
        Option          "Emulate3Buttons"       "true"
        Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "NVIDIA"
        Driver     "nv" # this is the important bit
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier      "Generic Monitor"
        Option          "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier      "Default Screen"
        Device          "NVIDIA"
        Monitor         "Generic Monitor"
        DefaultDepth    24
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth           24
                Modes           "1024x768"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier      "Default Layout"
        Screen          "Default Screen"
        InputDevice     "Generic Keyboard"
        InputDevice     "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode    0666
EndSection

This minimal. When doing...

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

...if you don't know the answer for a question, leave it blank.