willi23 wrote:Thanks for the reminder to be in root. I wasn't even able to log out, although I knew I always used "shutdown -h now". In root it worked again. The rest of the answer was not so sucessful. The "aptitude update" seemed to work, but the "aptitude install xorg" produced "no file". I then went to the link you included "HOW TO: Install X Window System". Anything with "xorg" in it pnoduced "no file". Other responses to other combinations were "broken package, dependent packages missing, etc,. Nothing produced any list of these packages so that I might try to correct them. Is there a way to uninstall Debian and start fresh. I have the 15 disks that came with this computer "Debian 3.1 r0a Sarge", and were supposed to be installed. Cheers. Willi
Unless you have a compelling reason to install Sarge, and/or don't have a fast internet connection, it's better to install the current Etch/stable.
Even better, imo, if you have no need for absolute, rock solid stability, you could install Lenny/testing -- better for desktops, again imo.
It is possible to update your system from Sarge/oldstable to Etch/stable, and I think there's a guide somewhere on the forum, but if you're starting afresh, and have broadband, it's probably better to d/l a netinstall image of Etch, (or Lenny) and start over.
btw, if apt/aptitude isn't showing you an installation candidate for xorg, it means your /etc/apt/sources.list probably does not include appropriate repositories.