Debian Installation Troubles

[bmad6]

I'm having a terrible time with installing debian today.

I just installed debian from 2 DVDs + I had it install GRUB boot loader, ran it, and told it to install a desktop environment when it asked to install packages. Not only did it never go back to that package selection page (I wanted to install the web server package too) but it restarted, didn't load up GRUB boot loader, and now I'm in the command line. I want to install KDE, and preferably have GRUB install the web server package with apache and everything.

So, my questions:

1 - If it installed correctly, either KDE or Gnome should be available. How would I run them from the command prompt? (I have basic knowledge of the command prompt, folder navigation, etc., and I have root access)

2 - If KDE and Gnome aren't installed, how would I install them from my DVDs?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

[mahlerfan]

Have you tried

startx

?

[bmad6]

yes, I've tried that - it's says "command not found" both when I'm logged in as root and when I'm not

[mahlerfan]

Yeah I think you're right that it didn't install a desktop environment for you. You don't have to reinstall though. As root go

apt-get install xserver-xorg

And then apt-get install gnome, kde or whatever floats your boat. Just to be safe you will also need to make sure that after you do that you have either gdm or kdm, so it doesn't hurt to go apt-get install gdm or apt-get install kdm.

And then you will need to configure xorg, and you have to edit your .xinitrc file to startup the desktop environment that you want. After you've done all that startx should work.

If it says apt-get not found then just go ahead and reinstall!

[bmad6]

Thanks a ton! That was exactly what I was looking for!

Then, after installing, to configure xorg, I just use "xorgconfig", but what do I have to do do configure the .xinitrc file?

UPDATE:

I installed xserver, kdm, and kde, but "xorgconfig" and "startx" both give me "command not found"

Do i have to restart or something?

UPDATE:

Okay, I think I have most stuff configured, but it keeps complaining that $DESKTOP isn't set. What should this be set to?

[bmad6]

Nevermind.

But, how do I change back and forth between installed interfaces, kde and gnome? Can I decide which one I want each time i boot up?

EDIT:

Nevermind again. =D

I figured everything out.

[mahlerfan]

Edit /etc/inittab to have the runlevel be X11, usually 4 or 5. Then you will be greated with either the kdm or the gdm login window and you can choose what desktop environment you want to login there.

[bmad6]

Oh, yea, I didn't see your post - thanks, though! I definitely need all the help I can get. =D