Install nightmare---need your help

[newbie]

Thanks for reading this and any potential help.

The only way i could install debian yesterday was from the newest "Live cd" I could download, 5.03.

I installed to hard drive with the help of this forum.

How do I now get around this problem.....

I did my first update and it's trying to update to the 2.6.26-2-686 kernel. I get the error that my bootloader is not configured to run initrd. I have add "do_initrd = yes" to /etc/kernel-img.conf. How do I do this when after finding file it wil not allow me to save because I do not have right permissions. Because I downloaded from the Live cd, is this the best way to get the distro upgrade or is there and easier way?

Also, what are the only Repositories should I have checked in software sources?

Thanks. your help would be appreciated.

[nadir]

i had a similar "problem" here:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44585
i can't remember that well, but simply ignored it.

the repo-question is more easy:

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####Debian 
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free

###### Debian Update Repos
deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib non-free 

two other repositories which are often used is backports and mulitimedia:

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#Multimedia
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org/ lenny main

http://www.debian-multimedia.org/

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#Backports
deb http://www.backports.org/debian lenny-backports main contrib non-free

http://backports.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=instructions

might be you don't need contrib and/or non-free. might be you don't need the deb-src repos.
lenny-main and security you do need at minimum.

might be i got typos.

[nadir]

to become root try:

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sudo su

if that works set a passwd for root:

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passwd

after that you use:

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su

to become root.

add a user and set a passw for him:

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adduser the_new_user_name

[newbie]

Thanks for the reply nadir....

I am having difficulty understanding your reply.....very sorry....

when i go to software sources and go to the debian software tab...which boxes should i check for repositories.....when i go to third party software...which should be checked and which should be added.

Your help is appreciated but I did not understand your last explanation.

[nadir]

sorry, my fault.
i guess you are using synaptic.
the repositories mentioned there are also to be found as a text-file.
the path would be /etc/apt/sources.lst
it can be edited with a text-editor. but synaptic does its job just fine.

the very short reply: same like above.
at minimum you need the lenny main line

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deb http://us.debian.org/debian main

and the security one:

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deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main

volatile is a bit of voodoo for me. the only example i can give:
antivirus software uses it.
multimedia gives you multimedia and backports gives you some newer versions which are also available in the main repo.

if you still don't understand (cause i was unclear): just post.
if you are able to: post a screenshot.
in the meantime i will check synaptic. perhaps someone more convenient with synaptic will jump in.

[nadir]

if you are able to open the mentioned file with a text-editor (gedit, kate , kwrite, leafpad, mousepad, gvim, vim, nano...whatever is available):

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/etc/apt/sources.list

and post the content. you may copy and paste it.
its more easy to see/understand than explaining what is where in synaptic
(once one knows whats going on its easy to explain for synaptic too).

[Soul Singin']

I am having difficulty understanding your reply.....very sorry....

I am having difficulty understanding the problem.....very sorry....


OK. Hopefully, that made you laugh. A sense of humor really helps in these situations.

But seriously ... It sounds like you can boot into Debian. If so, you're probably in better shape than you think.

If I am correct, could you tell us the names of the kernels that you can boot into? In other words, restart the computer. When the bootloader appears, write down the names of each kernel. Then try booting into each one. Let us know which work and which do not. (Time saving tip: Avoid the ones marked "single-user mode." The only user who can use that mode is root, so that mode should only be used in an emergency).

Also, to help us diagnose the problem, it would be really helpful if you could post your /boot/grub/menu.lst file. Just open it in a text editor and copy and paste here (preferably, between the "Code" tags).

It would be also be helpful if you could also open a command line, run the command:

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ls -l /boot/

and post the output here.

when i go to software sources and go to the debian software tab...which boxes should i check for repositories.....when i go to third party software...which should be checked and which should be added.

I assume that you are using Synaptic. If so, it may be difficult for some forum members to help you here because we tend to use the command line to install software.

Could you post your /etc/apt/sources.list file? It should look something like this:

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deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main
## deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main

deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main 
## deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main 

deb http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main

deb http://www.backports.org/debian lenny-backports main

Note that some entries begin with "##". Those lines are "commented out." APT ignores the entries that begin with "##" (the equivalent of "unchecked" in Synaptic) and only reads the entries that do not begin with "##" (the equivalent of "checked" in Synaptic).

Which you decide to use is your choice, but since you're new, I highly recommend the ones listed above. (Though you could also place contrib non-free at the end of those lines if proprietary software does not bother you).

For more information, see The Illustrated Guide to Installing Debian GNU/Linux. In addition to installation instructions, it provides a lot of post-installation tips to help you hit the ground running. In particular, you may want to read Appendix B -- The Basics of Package Management.

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