Getting Started in Debian Linux

NOTE: This page is based on the assumption that you are using Debian Lenny with the XFCE desktop manager. I use XFCE because it has good support and is faster than GNOME.

Basics

When you boot up Debian, you will be prompted for the username and password you chose in the installation process.
The Ethernet Internet connection worked right out of the box for me.
Right-clicking on the desktop gives you the XFCE menu.
To open a terminal window, go to XFCE menu -> Terminal .

Updating

Open a terminal window.
Enter the command "su". You will be prompted for the root password.
Enter "apt-get update".
To exit the terminal, close the window or enter "exit" twice. (The first "exit" logs out root. The second closes the terminal window.)

Configuring the Installation of Repository Software

When I first installed Debian with XFCE, I found that the computer was trying to install repository software from the CD rather than from the Internet as it was supposed to. Here are the steps to rectify this:

Open a Terminal window.
Enter "su". You will be prompted for the root password.
Enter "mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list".
If you see any line that starts with "deb cdrom", add a "#" to the beginning of the line to comment it out. In other words, the line should now start with "# deb cdrom". The remaining commands in the file direct the system to download software from the Internet instead of the CD.
Save the file and exit the Mousepad program.
Close the terminal window.

Installing Synaptic

I recommend adding Synaptic as the software installer program, as it is much easier to use than the Apt-get menu. Here are the steps needed:

Open a Terminal window.
Enter "su". You will be prompted for the root password.
Enter "apt-get install synaptic".
Close the terminal window.
To use Synaptic, go to XFCE menu -> Debian -> Applications -> System -> Package Management -> Synaptic Package Manager