In article <vzfkTiDZpsRDFwYy@[127.0.0.1]>, Chris <nospam@[127.0.0.1]>
writes
>In other threads I have described endless problems.
>So now I will try a new approach.
>I will attempt to describe what I did and what happened.
>Then maybe my mistakes will be obvious to you.
>
>19:00 Booted to XP and deleted existing Linux partitions,
>leaving 13GB of unallocated space at end of HDD.
>
>19:04 Booted XP CD to Recovery Console and used fixmbr and fixboot.
>
>19:08 Booted Sarge DVD and used hostname "debian" and no domain name -
>because I didn't know what that was for.
>
>19:12 "Installing the Debian base system"
>
>19:15 GRUB to MBR; removed DVD; system rebooting.
>
>19:17 "Welcome"; root pw; CDROM for apt; DVD back in.
>
>19:19 "Scanning Disc for index files"
>
>19:21 Selected "desktop environment" by pressing the space bar.
>I hadn't realised before that you had to press the space bar - to get
>an asterisk into the checkbox. The checkbox was highlighted - so I
>thought you just had to press enter.
>
>19:44 (NOW) Loads of white writing is flashing by on a black background.
>This has been going on for ages. Last time I aborted at this stage -
>because the messages made me think it was fetching lots of stuff from
>the Internet - but maybe it wasn't? Haven't a clue what's happening!
>I will wait a while and see what happens next.
>
>19:47 (ANOTHER NOW) (This is real stream-of-consciousness writing!)
>Something has happened.
>"Configuring xserver-xfree86"
>Well ... there is a driver called ati ... so I'll go for that.
>The card is an ATI Radeon 7000.
>
>19:53 Do I want the mouse and monitor autodetected?
>Yep - might as well. Scrubbed the mouse around enthusiastically, in an
>effort to co-operate.
>
>19:56 Loads more scrolling writing on screen.
>Says it's selecting things that were previously deselected.
>That sounds indecisive to me!
>Lets categorise that as a mystery - and relax.
>
>20:06 "Configuring Exim v4 (exim4-config)"
>I don't understand the questions here.
>Mine is just a home computer - connected to an ISP via a router.
>None of the options seem to apply.
>I will say "no configuration at this time".
>
>20:10 More questions about mail. Don't understand at all.
>Muddled through.
>
>20:14 Graphical login screen appeared - and I logged in as a normal
>user.
>WOW - Has this actually worked at last?
>
>I'm off to play with it now - but - is there a checklist of things I
>should do next?
>
>If it was XP I would be installing ZoneAlarm and AVG antivirus etc.
>and doing loads of configuring.
>
>What's the equivalent for Debian?

20:57 Diary continued ...

Same problem as with Ubuntu - in that monitor resolution is wrong.
It's a TFT Hansol H530 which should run at 1024x768 - and it's at
800x600 with no option to change.
What do I need to do?

Also - I would like to start posting to this newsgroup from the Debian
machine - because then I could copy and paste things into articles - but
Debian doesn't seem to have a news client installed.
Advice welcomed and appreciated.
--
Chris