> xfree86-common_3.3.2.3a-11.deb > > I would have thought using dpkg -i on this would have installed x- > windows, or at least the relevant components. Seems not to.
That is just one piece of the pie. There's a lot more than one package to XFree86. If you try to install the package "xbase", it will give you a whole mess of packages that xbase needs in order to install. That list is what you need to run Xfree86, at a minimum. Add to that the appropriate xserver for your video card, as well as xserver-vga16 and xf86setup to make life a lot easier. Once all of that is installed, try running XF86Setup. Note that it is very picky about case: xf86setup is not XF86Setup. The former is the name of the package, but the latter is the name of the program you run. Anyway, if XF86Setup likes your video card, then you're well on your way to a working graphical user interface. > I suspect I've missed an obvious step somewhere. So, can some > kind soul give me the step by step real easy don't assume I know > things list of how to get this thing happening. I tried, but I may not be real good at giving instructions. Any questions, feel free to ask me and/or the list. > (So far I have two sets of instructions how to install X-windows in > Debian, both of which seem to not match what's happening on my > system.) There's more than one way. That's what makes Linux so versatile, but also can confuse people. > (Somehow this is still more satisfying than keeping our Windows > systems happy) (I was overjoyed to discover that the up and down > arrow keys would step through all of the recent commands I had > issued, AND let me edit them! - what a wonderful idea!!) You think that's great, try typing part of a command and hitting tab. For example, I don't type "dselect" I type "ds" and when I hit the tab key it finishes the word. If it beeps, I haven't typed enough letters and there's more than one possibility. Hope this helps, Patrick
