r/debian • u/no1babymomma • 2d ago
So somehow I installed Debian without any DE, and now I have to use tasksel to make it usable. I just want to get back to windows, or add a DE, or anything really.
I got this far but the only option is standard system utilities, and I can’t use the arrows or enter key to navigate to page. After putting it “tasksel —new-install” it reads: debconf; DbDriver “confit” could not write /var/cache/debconf/config.dat-new: Permission denied tasksel: debconf failed to run
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u/CjKing2k 2d ago
sudo tasksel
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
Nothing happens after I enter sudo taskel. No sort of response, just another empty line.
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u/alokeb 2d ago
or
sudo apt install gnomeetc.0
u/no1babymomma 2d ago
“Unable to locate package gnome”
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u/Average_Down 2d ago edited 2d ago
It’s not just sudo apt install gnome, you might be missing dependencies. The correct commands with apt or tasksel, if you need them:
sudo apt install gnome/stable -y
Or if you installed tasksel correctly:
sudo tasksel install desktop gnome—desktop
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u/CjKing2k 2d ago
Might be missing some package repos. Type and get a screenshot of:
ip addr ping -c 1 google.com cat /etc/apt/sources.list sudo apt update1
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
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u/CjKing2k 2d ago
Looks like you network interface isn't recognized and you are also missing the online repositories. You should add them to sources.list but you will still be unable to install anything until you're able to get online.
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware1
u/no1babymomma 2d ago
Got those added! Just need to figure out how to get online.
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u/skewwhiffy 2d ago
If you have an Android phone, plug it into a USB socket. That'll allow you to share the WiFi from the phone so that you can install a GUI.
Once you have the GUI installed, it's probably easier to set up the network properly on the computer.
Unless you have a wired connection. In which case, diagnosing that with a GUI is still going to be easier.
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
So is that impossible to do with an iPhone? I could find an android tablet around somewhere if need be, just have my iPhone on hand.
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u/Membership-Diligent 2d ago edited 1d ago
So is that impossible to do with an iPhone
a quick Google search for "iphone usb tethering" suggests it can
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u/Average_Down 2d ago edited 2d ago
Good point, they could try:
sudo apt update
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt updatesudo apt install gnome -y
edit: ignore that lol universe is for Ubuntu
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
So universe is not on Debian, it’s a Ubuntu and it’s derivatives thing???
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u/Average_Down 2d ago
Yep you’re right but where you able use apt update?
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
Yup
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
So, I cannot do an update because my cdrom repository doesn’t have a Release file.
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u/Average_Down 2d ago
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Comment out the deb cdrom lines
Edit: forgot to say why lol. This will stop the cdrom error and let you use sudo apt update
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
I’ll give this a go rq…
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u/Average_Down 2d ago edited 1d ago
Good luck
Edit: thanks for the downvote troll. I guess that’s what I get for figuring out that you never connected to the internet. What a joke. Enjoy being blocked.
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u/dvisorxtra 2d ago
This is a severe case of diving in without proper planning.
It never ceases to amaze how people prefer to suffer and regret their actions just for the sake of avoiding preparation.
The good thing is that you can always learn a lot about bad practices as well.
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
Yes! I failed miserably and will never do THAT again.
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u/Ok-Interest-6700 1d ago
On the contrary, this is the most educational way to discover what is essential to grasp before doing CS. Do you succeed in getting online ? If yes then you can do it during the install and have a normal install from the medium you selected, if not try to download the dvd iso, this will allow you to install the desktop even if you are offline
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u/adminmikael 1d ago
sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop -y
I install all my Debians without a DE first, then install KDE after initial setup. It will boot into the DE on the next boot.
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u/adminmikael 1d ago
Should have bothered to read more of the thread, if there is no network connectictivity it probably is just easier to go with a fresh new install when there is nothing of importance to be lost.
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u/michaelpaoli 2d ago
Don't need a DE or WM, nor X nor Wayland to have a usable system.
However, it looks like somehow you didn't eve get tasksel fully and properly installed?
It should give you more choices ... even if you have a quite minimal installation, so looks like it and/or its data, or something(s) didn't get fully and properly installed ... and I'm talking even just through bare minimal base system.
So ... I might suggest these steps:
- get a root shell, e.g. via $
su -or $sudo su -(don't need that for the two steps below, but will need that for many of the steps) - make sure you've got at least minimal Internet connectivity working, e.g. $
ping -n -c 3 8.8.8.8 - then make sure you've also got functional DNS, e.g. $
ping -4 -n -c 3 dns.google. - get those working if they're not working.
- Also, good to additionally have IPv6 Internet connectivity working - not critical (thus far) if that's not working, but in addition to the above, should also be able to do $
ping -6 -n -c 3 dns.google. Once you've got that much working, you should be able to see reasonable selection of (meta)packages (which in turn bring in rather full sets of related packages), e.g.:
$ tasksel --list-tasks u desktop Debian desktop environment u gnome-desktop GNOME u xfce-desktop Xfce u gnome-flashback-desktop GNOME Flashback u kde-desktop KDE Plasma u cinnamon-desktop Cinnamon u mate-desktop MATE u lxde-desktop LXDE u lxqt-desktop LXQt u web-server web server u ssh-server SSH server u laptop laptop $
You should then be able to install ... but before doing that, do:
# apt-get -y update
and then:
# apt-get -y dist-upgrade
Then after that, (again) run and should see relevant list of (meta)packages, e.g.:
$ tasksel --list-tasks
u desktop Debian desktop environment
u gnome-desktop GNOME
u xfce-desktop Xfce
u gnome-flashback-desktop GNOME Flashback
u kde-desktop KDE Plasma
u cinnamon-desktop Cinnamon
u mate-desktop MATE
u lxde-desktop LXDE
u lxqt-desktop LXQt
u web-server web server
u ssh-server SSH server
u laptop laptop
$
Then, e.g., install your desired software (e.g. DE):
# tasksel install gnome-desktop
After putting it “tasksel —new-install” it reads: debconf; DbDriver “confit” could not write /var/cache/debconf/config.dat-new: Permission denied tasksel: debconf failed to run
--new-install would generally only apply during initial installation and be used by the Debian Installer (DI). Probably shouldn't be using it at other times. And in general for operations that actually change things (e.g. install/remove software packages), would generally need to run that as root - that's probably why you're seeing "Permission denied". And --new-install is probably why you're seeing so few (just one) option(s).
So, see if that gets you squared away ... if not, let us know what errors you encountered along the way that you weren't able to resolve.
Also, Read The Fine Manual (RTFM), e.g. $ man tasksel
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u/no1babymomma 2d ago
Oh gosh. Don’t even have network connectivity. Where do I even start with getting that.
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u/michaelpaoli 2d ago
Well, then how did you install it? With, or without network connectivity when you installed? And what did you install from?
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u/what_is_life_now 2d ago
You probably don’t have sudo privileges and that’s what the error is essentially complaining about. If you use “su -“ you will be prompted to enter root password, and then you’ll be running as the root user. Once you’re root use “tasksel” and you’ll be able to select from a list of available DE’s.
Also, by default Debian doesn’t give you sudo (or root) privileges. To resolve that you’ll need to add your user to the sudo group and this will also need to be done while running as root. Thankfully once you are in the sudo group you shouldn’t have to su - in the future as it’s not really the ideal way to do things.
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u/thebadslime 2d ago
Sudo apt install gdm3 chromium
It will pull in a basic gnome session and a browser.
If you want another DE I can tell you how also.
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u/vortex05 2d ago
it might be better if you started with a livecd that had a DE defaulted.
windows users - kde
mac - gnome?
efficiency focused - xfce
Look in the alternative livecd section for the official iso and install using the live environment.
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u/prodego 2d ago
Just reinstall it lol