Kernel Source? Debian.

[Grays]

Hey all,

I've been on this problem for hours, googling around, and I can't find a solution. I'm a complete linux newbie--so, please be patient.

I'm trying to set up Debian on my Aspire 7520 as per this article. I did the net install, I successfully used apt-get to get the madwifi drivers. I'm *somewhat* familiar with makefiles (the Windows version I use to compile C++ programs), so I was pretty sure I knew what would happen when I typed "make"--and then it gave me an error:

/bin/sh: line 0: cd: /lib/modules/2.6.24-1-amd/build: no such file or directory.
Makefile.inc:66: *** /lib/modules/2.6.24-1-amd64/build is missing, please set KERNELPATH. Stop.

So, trying to fix it myself, found this article explaining what seemed to be wrong. I created a symbolic link--same problem. So, I navigated to /usr/src in my terminal, and nothing was there. Isn't the Linux kernel source supposed to typically install to that directory? Everything I'm reading implies that it should.

Anyway, googling around some more, I found what I assume to be the kernel source, a 44 mb package called "linux-2.6.24". After the GUI refused to let me copy into that directory (please tell me how to do that, btw), I used a root terminal to move the folder over there and rename it to "kernel-source-2.6.24" so that now it's properly named. Figuring that will fix it, I went back to the terminal and tried it again. New error:

Makefile.inc:81: *** Cannot detect kernel version - please check compiler and KERNELPATH. Stop.

Did I do something wrong in the original install? Why is it not just working by itself the way that the author of that original article said it would? Please help!

[HROAdmin26]

When using a Debian-based distro, for general purpose use with make scripts, you generally only need the build-essential package. Read up on how to install software on Debian and you'll find the apt-get tool.

apt-get install build-essential

I'm a complete linux newbie--I tried once about a year ago, gave up

This is incredibly frustrating.

I don't know what your expectations are, but maybe you'd be better off with something like Ubuntu?

[Grays]

I shouldn't have said "This is incredibly frustrating." I realized later I should have omitted that. (This was after trying to take care of it myself for several hours, so I apologize that I came across that way.) Yes, to a certain degree I was expecting it to be difficult, but my tone was inappropriate, and I appreciate you helping me.

Anyway, I installed build-essential, attempted make again, and am getting a new error:

Makefile.inc:91: *** KERNELCONF: /lib/modules/2.6.24-1-amd64/build/.config does not exist.. Stop.