Cool, I have a classic terminal login prompt prefixed by the computer name, I should login as my user first (never login as root unless you really REALLY have too, which is never (use su(see later))). Where did I write that easy to remember password ?.... OK I am in, after a short disclaimer I have a $ prompt. I want X working so lets try xf86config Right, straight off it does not know about USB mice, should I unplug an use the PS2 adapter or soldier on knowing full well this going to make things damn hard ?! Even plain old serial mice gave me problems on other machines, so lets go with "Mouse Systems (3 button protocol)" And I get asked about microsoft compatibility, well it is a microsoft more but it has three buttons (and a wheel, and its a track ball !) Hit return, return return lists US three times but no English/British keyboard type, oh wait "Press Enter for more" (Doh!) Do I want XKB options? never heard of them so no. Now it wants the refresh rates again, I am not enjoying this ! Now it wants the GFX card details, and it is not a nice GUI :( Its asking unfun questions about the GFX card details >:( It has finished, lets try startx, screen flashes and a fatal IO error "No screens found" WTF!? Lets try the xf86cfg, hmmm crashed the machine, Doh! Nice, on reboot it tries to load X and fails >:( Even better it tries to run its own config and I get a blank screen >:( Ah ++ have moved things along to a VERY basic X screen. This is a laugh, although instructions are given on how to move the cursor with the keypad none of the click options work and it is not clear what should happen. Is it showing me info I can change? and if so how !? >:( And the cursor is stuck now anyway >:( ++ gets me back to square 1 and it hangs trying to login Right I am back in the xf86cfg window in VGA X and I can only select expert but that has no selectable options either (using the keys for double click or button 1,2,3) >:( The close option does not even respond ! >:( Time to put on my PS2/USB adaptor ! (its sad) Well its a tight fit against the PS2/AT converter for the keyboard ... Doh! there is a hidden option for click '5' !! This new knowledge is not working, I selected 'Configure mouse' and now I have an X cursor and NOTHING else !! Had a look on the web and it is suggested I run dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 (remember this debian), lets see if it can do a better job. I wonder if it worked while installing and then I overwrote the settings :( A quick su and enter the root password and low and behold i am the most powerful being in the machine !! Default , default yes to frame buffer, interestingly most settings as as i entered them previously ... it finished and I got "Screens found, but none have usable configuration" and then "no screens found" as before :( I tried all the simpler options(max resolution etc) and it works, KDE just popped up !! I am so happy :( And the mouse in the PS2 converter seems to be working (but i have not tried all buttons yet. KDE wants me to confirm my location, please note I have done this, once for the initial install and once for the X config and now it wants it again !! what if I had put different choices in each time !? This could take a while, I am playing with the desktop look&feel options, ooo look screen savers .... Well its better than nothing, but I really wanted a higher resolution and higher color and I noticed the openGL screen savers were not very quick. I have downloaded the latest NVidia drivers (at the mo I am using the NV open source drivers) but I can not be bothered to install them just yet. Cool, ran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 again and upped the resolution (to one I know the monitor supports) 1280x1024 and 24 bit color(even though the card supports 2048x1536x32, but that might be hard to read) and wow, my desktop never looked so gooooood! Right now X is setup, REALLY need to get my modem working, then sound.. p.s. I had to chose the NO FRAMBUFFER option to get my setup to work.