Total n00b to Linux, I require assistance

[mickgriddle]

Alright, I got an iBook g3 dual usb from the tech department at my school for free and I absolutely hate mac os, so I wanted to try linux, I am a total n00b to linux, anyways, I installed debian, and am going through the command terminal and I have no desktop or anything, I can log into the command terminal but I have no idea where to go from there to start! Point to anything, a tut or a post that could help me please!

[nadir]

this is the latest revision of oswaldkelsos beginners guide:
http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddq4dz3q_24cxjdstg2
-go to section 6 and 7 and have a short read about desktop-environments and window-managers.
people might say a beginner should start with an environment. i would start right of with a window-manager.
- go to section B.2.1 and B.2.2 to check how to install a gui from scratch.
- installing is as simple as becoming root:

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su

and entering

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apt-get install < the name of a package>

i would start with:

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apt-get install xorg

next step, as an example, would be:

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apt-get install gnome-desktop-environment

or simply

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apt-get install gnome-core

if you choose a full environment that has been all the magic. exit root by typing -> exit, and type

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startx

to start the gui. and with a bit of luck it's running.

i keep it short: you have got so many choices that its not easy to tell you what to do.
you need at minimum X (the gui) and some kind of window-management (either a window-manager or a desktop-environment. either a full desktop-environment or a stripped down version)
(and there the trouble starts, not everyone would agree...).

might be you will find some good info here
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20481
as i ain't got a mac i don't know (because there is no use for me to read it).

if you got trouble just ask. welcome to debian.

[mickgriddle]

Thanks a ton man, you've helped a lot!

EDIT: Alright, so I've installed gnome first, I still need a window manager and various other things?

[mickgriddle]

Alright, when I type apt-get install xorg I get E: Couldn't find package xorg. I have however already installed the Gnome desktop environment but don't know how to access it from the command terminal? I just really want to get to gnome.

Maybe the CD I used doesn't include the xorg package? I have no idea.

[AdrianTM]

If you installed Gnome you should have xorg installed too. The easiest way to start Gnome is to install gdm (apt-get install gdm) and reboot, I think you should be presented with a graphical log in, if not, type "startx" and post here the results.

[Bro.Tiag]

Welcome to debian, linux & the forums.

Alright, I got an iBook g3 dual usb from the tech department at my school for free and I absolutely hate mac os, so I wanted to try linux, I am a total n00b to linux, anyways, I installed debian, and am going through the command terminal and I have no desktop or anything, I can log into the command terminal but I have no idea where to go from there to start! Point to anything, a tut or a post that could help me please!

OK, seeing how you are trying to get debian running on a Mac (and documentation for that is sparse), I wont make any sarcastic comments and risk the possablilty of someone thinking I am being rude thus having my post edited. Ergo, have a read of this post, Debian User Forums • View topic - How to install debian on imac-emac ppc, very verbose set-up. Additionally, you might find some of these posts also helpfull, Search for eMac, iMac & Mac. One last rescource, have a look at this site, PC wiki | Linux on your Apple Mac | iLinux]General PPC | Linux on your Apple Mac | iLinux as well as their forum and the old forum.

Cheers

[mickgriddle]

Sorry hold on, tried to follow up on a tut too late and messed everything up, reinstalling everything now, I'll post as soon as I get back to where I was.

[Soul Singin']

The Illustrated Guide to Installing Debian GNU/Linux is a pretty good guide. It also contains a lot of post-installation tips that you may find helpful. In particular, you may want to read:

• Appendix B -- The Basics of Package Management
• Appendix C -- Installing Alternative Desktops
• Appendix D -- Suggested Packages

Good Luck! and Welcome to Debian!
- Soul Singin'
.

[nadir]

good links are added (by Bro.Tiag and SoulSinging). check them (if you like)

EDIT: Alright, so I've installed gnome first, I still need a window manager and various other things?

the desktop-environments include a window-manager (gnome uses metacity ; xfce uses something like xfwm, lxde uses openbox, kde uses kwin).
say like this
-X is the basis (in case one wants a gui, an easy way is to install xorg to include it all)
-desktop-environments (include a window-manager, a login-manager, a coherent look and feel and a ton of apps)
-stripped down desktop-environment (include a window-manager and the basic apps)
-a window-manager (includes a window-manager and thats it, icewm is a very good one, openbox too)

as far i know they also include a login-manager (for sure gnome and kde).
they also include a ton of apps you will never use, and once you go for testing or unstable (and you will) they are a little bit touchy.

if for one would add gnome-core and install the stuff i need on my own. a bit of work for now, but you will get deep down into the rabbit hole from the very beginning (in plain words: you will learn faster).

[mickgriddle]

Is there anyway that I can view the whole command prompt? It's like my screen is too small for the resolution, the words go off about 8 lines from the bottom of my ibook.

[Absent Minded]

you can get a terminal by pressing ctrl+alt+F1

[mickgriddle]

If you installed Gnome you should have xorg installed too. The easiest way to start Gnome is to install gdm (apt-get install gdm) and reboot, I think you should be presented with a graphical log in, if not, type "startx" and post here the results.

ALright, it told me Server X was put on incorrectly, let me get confirmation on what it says.

[mickgriddle]

Alright,

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

Yes No

Edit: Just realized almost every single one of my posts starts with Alright,

Edit 2: Possible problem I only installed Gnome-core, installing gnome-desktop-environment right now.

Edit 3: No dice. The graphical guide looks totally different from what I'm faced with possibly because I'm running on a mac.

[Bro.Tiag]

Alright,

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

Yes No

Edit: Just realized almost every single one of my posts starts with Alright,

Edit 2: Possible problem I only installed Gnome-core, installing gnome-desktop-environment right now.

STOP! Step away from the computer. Go to the store and get a sixer of beer (if not old enough a sixer of Dew). Drink at least one before returning to your computer. Now, before doing anything else (other then opening another can) READ the links I offered and the one Soul Singin' posted. If you have finished reading and still have a few cans left over, you read to fast. Read them again. Now, start over and follow the advice offered by others.

Cheers

[mickgriddle]

Alright xorg is clearly no available on my cpu, I don't understand why, maybe the installation CD didn't include the library or something. I can't get internet access to my mac, well I guess I can via ethernet cable, is this necessary?

[Soul Singin']

STOP! Step away from the computer. Go to the store and get a sixer of beer (if not old enough a sixer of Dew). Drink at least one before returning to your computer. Now, before doing anything else (other then opening another can) READ the links I offered and the one Soul Singin' posted. If you have finished reading and still have a few cans left over, you read to fast. Read them again. Now, start over and follow the advice offered by others.

.

[Absent Minded]

What is the instalation media that you are using (ie. netinstall. KDEinstall, Gnome install or a DVD Disk)?

[mickgriddle]

debian-503-powerpc-CD-1.iso is the cd-r image I used for Debian.

[mickgriddle]

Alright,

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

Yes No

Edit: Just realized almost every single one of my posts starts with Alright,

Edit 2: Possible problem I only installed Gnome-core, installing gnome-desktop-environment right now.

STOP! Step away from the computer. Go to the store and get a sixer of beer (if not old enough a sixer of Dew). Drink at least one before returning to your computer. Now, before doing anything else (other then opening another can) READ the links I offered and the one Soul Singin' posted. If you have finished reading and still have a few cans left over, you read to fast. Read them again. Now, start over and follow the advice offered by others.

Cheers

Can't drink pop. (Or beer for that matter.) I tried the businesscard.iso tut, however when I installed the core via disk, it had an error and couldn't finish the installation, I'm off to the next tutorial.

[nadir]

again: i don't know mac.
do all of the following as root, by typing

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su 

but when you try to startx type:

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exit

to exit root and run the startx as user.

some ideas (from a PC-user)
make sure xorg is installed:

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apt-cache policy xorg

will tell you. if not install it

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apt-get install xorg

if you get error-messages post them.

try it without the xorg configuration file

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mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf  /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup

and try startx.

try to re-create a xorg.conf:

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Xorg -configure

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mv /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf

not sure about the following, things have changed (the question is when):

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dpgk-configure -phigh xserver-xorg

i am sure Bro.Tiag didn't post what he did just for the fun of it. as said: i don't know a mac. might be there is something very different. i did a short search for xorg in oswaldkelsos how-to, but didn't find anything unusual.

PS: just to let you know: the most experienced users over here use aptitude instead of apt-get. i simply don't know it and therefor post the apt-get commands.