how not to install debian desktop environment

how not to install debian desktop environment

[Jude DaShiell]

1) don't install on etch since gnopernicus is less than stable that comes 
with that version and security is an issue.
2) don't install on lenny even with a clean installation aptitude will
    encounter at least 10 packages with errors it cannot install. Does sid
    or unstable work any better, I don't know but I'll find that out next
    after I burn this system to the ground and start over with a clean
    install. Doing just a gnome package install followed by accessibility
    packages is no solution either since the system doesn't get configured
    well enough to remain stable.  I don't know if the ubuntu gnome is
    unique in playing sign on themes after a successful login or not.  If
    no, then there's another oddity to track down.  I have an offer of help
    from someone who can see and knows his way around Linux this weekend.
    Given the bad state of installation he'll probably just waste his time
    if he comes over here.  I found thepackage in debconf-utils that can
    write a new Xorg.conf file for a computer.  The problem is, after I
    used that package and rebooted I ended up with a broken gnome
    installation.  If I find where aptitude put those errors, I'll probably
    show them to Peter Youssef and see what he can make of them.  That
    debconf-utils package in terms of its description is promising if it
    works and makes effective preseed.cfg files.  I have to study that one
    since it may help me do what I do around here faster in the future.
    Finally something for any who have managed to get debian gnome up and
    talking.  There is a window manager called ratpoison that's supposed to
    move everything over onto the keyboard so you don't have to use the
    mouse for anything once installed.  No idea if it works or how it might
    work.  I read about it on a page describing debian's X packages.

Re: how not to install debian desktop environment

[Doug Smith]

Ok, how to install Debian with gnome.  I have ubuntu up and running flawlessly.  I just got the last little fixes on it yesterday, and I am perfectly satisfied with 
what I have found.  

Remember me, the guy who wouldn't touch a graphical user interface with a 1000 lightyear pole, the guy who would never even look at such a distribution up to a few 
hours ago, have the thing up and running perfectly with my Dell latitude dx, the computer I have had since two or three years ago.  It really works.  
You might ask what happened?  Well, it's this.  If you don't get something that's up to date with what window$ is doing, and with the other systems on other 
systems, you will end up not being able to use the internet after a while.  


Well, the only problem I had with it is that I needed sighted assistance to install the ubuntu system, because that installation problem seems to be inaccessible 
again, but once that little 5-minute, one-time-only thing is done, it works.  I just added my command line favorites onto the system and am using all of them until 
I figure out this new graphical environment.  Even then, being a power user, I will always do many things from the command line.  

If you have a sighted friend, and you don't mind working with him or her for a couple of minutes, you can get a good little system up and running in no time.  If 
you need help, mail me off list. 



Glad to help.  



Doug Smith

Re: how not to install debian desktop environment

[Alex Snow]

That's odd, I've always found the installer to be accessible...did you 
follow the instructions on the orca wiki?
On Sat, Mar 08, 2008 at 
11:10:25AM -0500, Doug Smith wrote:
> Ok, how to install Debian with gnome.  I have ubuntu up and running flawlessly.  I just got the last little fixes on it yesterday, and I am perfectly satisfied with 
> what I have found.  
> 
> Remember me, the guy who wouldn't touch a graphical user interface with a 1000 lightyear pole, the guy who would never even look at such a distribution up to a few 
> hours ago, have the thing up and running perfectly with my Dell latitude dx, the computer I have had since two or three years ago.  It really works.  
> You might ask what happened?  Well, it's this.  If you don't get something that's up to date with what window$ is doing, and with the other systems on other 
> systems, you will end up not being able to use the internet after a while.  
> 
> 
> Well, the only problem I had with it is that I needed sighted assistance to install the ubuntu system, because that installation problem seems to be inaccessible 
> again, but once that little 5-minute, one-time-only thing is done, it works.  I just added my command line favorites onto the system and am using all of them until 
> I figure out this new graphical environment.  Even then, being a power user, I will always do many things from the command line.  
> 
> If you have a sighted friend, and you don't mind working with him or her for a couple of minutes, you can get a good little system up and running in no time.  If 
> you need help, mail me off list. 
> 
> 
> 
> Glad to help.  
> 
> 
> 
> Doug Smith
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Besides, its really not worthwhile to use more than two times your physical 
ram in swap (except in a select few situations). The performance of the system 
becomes so abysmal you'd rather heat pins under your toenails while reciting 
Windows95 source code and staring at porn flicks of Bob Dole than actually try 
to type something.
	-- seen on c.o.l.development.system, about the size of the swap space

Re: how not to install debian desktop environment

[Doug Smith]

Well, yes.  I did, but had trouble with this one.  I am glad I have this 
thing fixed so that I can maintain it over the network and won't have to 
deal with that one again.  



Sincerely: 



Doug Smith

'