Question about updating packages with aptitude in Debian 12

[Solved] So I disabled the CD ROM repository using the software and updates application on Debian 12 because it kept asking me to insert the CD ROM when I would try to install stuff.

After disabling it I used Aptitude to update the packages I had already installed but I noticed that before I disabled the CD ROM repository it told me that because I didn't have it inserted that it used some older versions of software.

After removing the CD rom repository it just updated everything and didn't show that message.

My concern is that I know Debian uses some older versions of stuff because of its stability and I read very briefly about "Franken Debian" situations where people use versions of stuff that weren't intended to be used with the stable version of Debian.

Did I mess up by doing that and create a situation like that? And if so, after a fresh reinstall when I get here again is virtually mounting the USB stick I have the Debian DVD ROM on an option for it to stick with that CD ROM repository? (I don't have a physical CD ROM on this machine)

17 points · 8 comments · view on lemmy.world

8 Comments

gnuhaut@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 1y

If you use netinstall you won't have any CD-ROM sources in sources.list. I think that's kind of stupid that the full iso installer even adds the CD-ROM line. The vast majority of people wouldn't want that and it just confuses new users.

halm@leminal.space · 6 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Did I mess up by doing that and create a situation like that?

No, this is standard procedure. Your system and software have been updated to the latest, stable version. Unless you actively add a repo containing unstable software versions, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

BobGnarley@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Perfect I just wanted to make sure I was worried it may have automatically added them without the CD ROM one holding it in place or something like that. Thank you so much!

halm@leminal.space · 2 pts · 1y

You really only need the "CD ROM" repo for the base install from physical media; maybe there are edge cases where you'd want to roll back, but on the whole you're in safe hands with the official, Debian stable repos 🙂

Enjoy the Linux journey! Debian is a great starting point to learn from, IMHO.

wesker@lemmy.sdf.org · 6 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Hey! Congrats on getting everything installed and situated so far.

BobGnarley@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 1y

Thank you so much! Its been a lot of fun learning and all of you on here have made it a super enjoyable experience.

BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y

Really. For a new user, fixing the repos is one of the less intuitive things to do.

oo1@lemmings.world · 3 pts · 1y

On debian i just comment out all except the main official repos that I want. As long as you have the main deb and security and updates ones i think you'll be fine.

I tend to go for flatpak or appimage for anything not in those. I'd avoid any testing, unstable , backport sources unless you know what you're getting into.

I guess you're maybe using aptitude to avoid cli, but i'd recommend at least looking at the /etc/apt/soures.list file, and any stuff in the subfolder /etc/apt/soures.list.d

This is the list of where it looks for software. If it can't connect to any of those, It'll probably warn you about an unavailable source.

https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList