apt-get questions pt 1. was Re: [H-GEN] newbie setting up Debian

[Mark Venz]

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On Fri, 6 Apr 2001, Jonathon M. Abbott wrote:

> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and  ]
> [ Unix-related topics.  Please observe the list's charter.           ]
> [ Worthwhile understanding: http://www.humbug.org.au/netiquette.html ]
>
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 02:48:04PM +1000, Mark Venz wrote:
> > On Thu, 5 Apr 2001, Jonathon M. Abbott wrote:
> > > > X -version 4.0.3
> > >
> > > Hmm, how did you get 4.0.3 on a Debian 2.2 system?
> > >
> > I downloaded the XF86*.t* and install *.sh's from aarnet.
> > The urgency with this machine was to get X up to run a Soccer Server.
> > I tried with apt-get, but not know anything about it - I managed to only get some
> > of the required files - so I did it the hard way.
>
> The normal way of getting X up on debian is to install
> task-x-window-system-core which should pull in all the required
> dependencies.
>
> Unfortunately, installing a non-debian X onto your system may
> have been a bad idea. More below.
>
> Did you specifically require X 4.0.3, or just X 4.0.x, or did you
> have trouble getting *any* X going?

My first attempt only downloaded some the files needed, esp no startx and any
of the config files.

I need a driver for NVIDA TNT2, and I need libraries for development.

Having less experience that I have now, I just downloaded the aarnet XF86*
stuff.

I'm going to move what I've got and start again.

I'll let you know how it all goes.

Cause there's more stuff that needs to be configured :)

>
> > > Assuming you haven't done anything tricky like roll your own X, you should be able to find out what version is installed with
> > > dpkg -s xfree86-common | grep Version
> > Version: 3.3.6-11potato15
> >
> > Since dpkg version and X don't match, is there a way I can update dpkg version?
>
> In a word, no. It's generally regarded as a bad idea to install
> non-packaged stuff directly into /usr [If you put X under
> /usr/local then everything should be fine, just get the latest X
> .debs and remove your install, but I have a feeling you're not
> going to be so lucky.] If you try and install the correct X
> packages, you're likely to get a whole bunch of conflicts.
>
> > Or doesn't it matter.
>
> It may be possible to "fix" it, with a lot of fiddling, but it
> may just be best to start from scratch.
>
> > Thanks for all the help so far,
>
> Always a pleasure to help a fellow Debianite. :-)
>
> --
> Jonathon M. Abbott                    s362814 at student.uq.edu.au
> Time goes, you say?
> Ah no!
> Time stays, *we* go.
> 		-- Austin Dobson
>

--
		Humans always do the most intelligent thing
		after every stupid alternative has failed.
    			--R. Buckminster Fuller


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