Linux help wanted!

Please help! I am a complete linux newbie and I need some help. I installed debian as recommended by a friend. However, all I have now is a command prompt. How can I start a windows manager? I tried entering "startx" but it says command not recognised. Any ideas?

Cheers!

John

apt-get install xorg gnome

Should do it, you might need apt-get install xserver-xorg-core xorg gnome xdm

Select Desktop install next time, it's easier...

Debian though, its a good version I use it. Might have a hard time as a beginner with it though.

apt-get is your friend. Find programs with apt-cache search program and install them with apt-get install program.

i..e
apt-cache search xeyes
apt-get install xeyes.

Easy

Dan

Alternatively....go vista!

http://software.silicon.com/os/0,390...9163944,00.htm

You will have to be root to apt-get install xorg gnome
or you could try
sudo apt-get install xorg gnome

Just... hmm, Debian is a really good distrib, but its a bit scary.
Ubuntu is based on Debian, but it is handier for the newbie.
If you are worried about the install, its no problem.
I think you will just be productive faster with Ubuntu, and you might end up a bit burnt out playing with Debian. Or not. Who knows. Maybe you are a very clever chap and dont need silly GUIs to help you along :P

Originally Posted by mysteryjimbo

Alternatively....go vista!

http://software.silicon.com/os/0,390...9163944,00.htm

ha ha. Yeah. Alternatively you could open your case, and take a big healthy dump onto the hard drive and see how that works out for you.

Originally Posted by thor

I installed debian as recommended by a friend.

Friends don't let friends install debian. It's a bit of an uber-geek distro. A beginner would be much better off with something like Ubuntu.

Just compare the websites and you'll see what I mean:

http://www.debian.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/

As PhillyMac said, Ubuntu is based on Debian, but made more friendly.

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Friends don't let friends install debian. It's a bit of an uber-geek distro. A beginner would be much better off with something like Ubuntu.

Just compare the websites and you'll see what I mean:

http://www.debian.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/

As PhillyMac said, Ubuntu is based on Debian, but made more friendly.

Lol. This guy is a bit of joker it has to be said.

Ubuntu - linux for humans



Cheers for the help. I think I might just install ubuntu instead and see how I get on!

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Friends don't let friends install debian. It's a bit of an uber-geek distro. A beginner would be much better off with something like Ubuntu.

Just compare the websites and you'll see what I mean:

http://www.debian.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/

As PhillyMac said, Ubuntu is based on Debian, but made more friendly.

I wasnt going to just come straight out and say it.. but yeah, have to agree with wyrdness. Your mate installed dedian, and left you with a terminal???

Awesome. Thanks a million.

For an easy install try SuSE.......

[timwilky]

Am I simply strange or missing out on something by running Fedora 4 on my home development servers. (I need some sort of compatibility with RHES as they tend to be my target deployment distribution)


But gui and linux?. learn to use a command line, you never know when the only interface you may have is an ascii terminal on the end of a serial line or ssh connection