Christensen writes: >A final note on this thread--I tried re-installing Debian because during >the first installation I remembered seeing messages about not being able >to find the package.cd files. It turned out that when I used the scan >option it found the ones for "main" and "contrib," but not the ones for >"non-free," "non-US," or "local." (So I guess they're optional, and >maybe available only from a download???) And it never prompted me to >insert the second disk. When I tried to switch disks the CD drawer >wouldn't open. (This has never happened before. I guess the >installation procedure ties up the device somehow?) > >Anyway, I bought the CD's from Cheapbytes. They're a set of four: two >binary and two source. The two binary CD's seem to be almost duplicates >of each other. (#1 has tools, #2 has FAQ's, plus other seemingly minor >differences.) The Linux that I installed works OK (from my extremely >limited perspective as a total newcomer!). So I'm wondering: what's >the reason for that second disk? (When I installed I tried both >options: install from a CD or from a CD set. Neither prompted for a >second CD.)
I'll try to cover most of your questions here. Please ask if I miss anything... The two binary CDs are _very_ different in terms of the packages they contain, but by necessity they are laid out in a similar fashion. The contents are arranged so that most of the stuff most people will need is on CD#1. In fact, all of the suggested tasks/profiles in the installation setup rely only on packages on CD#1. The packages on CD#2 are the less commonly-used ones, meaning that some users may never need it. The non-US and non-free sections are not available on official Debian CDs due to their licensing problems, but you may be able to find people who will sell you CD containing them. and "local" is a space left for any _local_ Debian packages that a user may have downloaded/built themselves. -- Steve McIntyre, CURS CCE, Cambridge, UK. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use Debian GNU/Linux - upgrade your Windoze box today! http://www.debian.org/ "Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky, +------------------ "Tongue-tied & twisted, Just an earth-bound misfit, I..." |Finger for PGP key
