probably the biggest n00b question

[aloriard]

ok i installed the debian base package, then i and prompted to reboot, and thus reboot, it then brings me to the package selection, i installed all the packages, and i login into debian, the problem is, i cant figure out how to get into a gui, i just have a black screen similiar to unix. ive ran slackware and i thought startx would be the solution to the problem but it just brings me into a grey screen similiar to windows editor from other distros, i think it is x system (not sure). so how do i get it to load up a gui such as gnome which i would prefer, or maybe kde?

[bidi]

Chances are you didn't install X. During installation, to install both Gnome and KDE you will need to choose the "Desktop Enviornment" option. The trick is that, in order to choose it, you need to use the "space bar". I made the same mistake twice before successfully getting it. I've said it before, and will say it again, they really need to make that clear on the instructions.

[aloriard]

i did that but i came across the same problem, i used the space bar and selected everything, and at times i only selected the desktop environment. am i right at thinking startx will bring me to a gui? anyways along with that im going to try doing the netinstall, because i was using the dvds and maybe that was the problem.

[bidi]

It just sounds like X is not being installed, which is strange! I guess it could be a problem with the DVDs, I've never installed Debian with them since I've never been patient enough to download it, netinstall is my best friend.

[eraker]

have you tried:

apt-get install x-window-system

or, for a much more minimal install,

apt-get install x-window-system-core

and then you can install a GUI/window manager via

apt-get install gnome (or) KDE (or) fluxbox

etc.

[aloriard]

ok thanks for the help, the netinstall worked, i guess the dvds were just messed up. well now that ive got debian running can someone help me install my nvidia drivers, i am new to debian, i used to use suse but it is different. so how can i update my kernel (if possible) and install my nvidia drivers. currently im running on 800x600 resolution, while on my other os's on this computer i run at 1280x1024. any help will be appreciated. thanks.

[Thrillhouse]

so how can i update my kernel (if possible) and install my nvidia drivers.

Here's a very detailed article on updating, compiling and configuring the kernel for Debian:
The Very Verbose Guide to Updating and Compiling Your Debian Kernel

Here's a tutorial for installing nvidia drivers:
Installing Nvidia Drivers

[aloriard]

ok i first off, my kernel is newer than the ones in the article. secondly, i tried the nvidia install, i left x and went into init 3 and ran the nvidia file from nvidia's website. all went well for a couple of moments then the nvidia thing said it couldnt find my kernel, then it asked to look for it on nvidia, it couldnt find it there, next it prompted me to allow it to compile one itself from my data. but it again found nothing, it was not about to compile a kernel thing. how do i make it to were the nvidia thing will finds my kernel or be able to update to the latest kernel to allow nvidia to find my kernel.

[Thrillhouse]

What version of the kernel are you running? i.e. What do you get if you execute this command

uname -r

?

[Pixelsize]

hey, does the screent turns black for a sec or it looks like changing resolution and then change again? cuz it might be a configuration problem... if this is happening to you, then u got eg installed, u just need to configure correctly the xserver... ok tell me that cya!