[Lancaster] Trying Debian --- Again.

[Ken Hough]

In view of the Debian support within the group, I've been having yet 
another attempt to get 'Woody' up and running.

At last I've got an X terminal working. This was no thanks to the Debian 
installation programme which was not successful, despite trying several 
times since with parameters that I know to be correct.

I then found 'xf86cfg' which kept crashing when I tried to set up my 
mouse. I got over this one by manually setting a soft link named 
(surprise?) '/dev/mouse' to point to '/dev/psaux'. I then discovered 
that the X config was, by default, written to 
'/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config'. This is a long way from /etc/X11/.

I eventually discovered that Debian (unlike other distros and the 
standard config tools) requires the config to be named XF86Config-4 
rather than XF86Config. I know, I should read the small print.

After redirecting the output to the correct place/name (see below), I 
did get a working X terminal, BUT at only 8 bit colour depth! Why on 
earth is this next to useless prog included?

I then fell back on my old friend 'xf86config' (have known this since 
SuSE v6.2) and after renaming the resulting config file got a fully 
working X terminal.

I'm begining to understand why Debian fans like to hand edit configs. 
They have no choice!

Can anyone tell me how to go about setting up a sound card under Debian? 
  I don't wish to go on line to download info. This is an isolated 
test/experimental box.

Ken Hough