I am new to Linux (not to R) and I am experimenting with a Linux machine
with Debian etch and the Gnome desktop environment installed. Since the
stable release has R2.4 I elected to build R from sources and was able to
successfully install R2.71.  I had some trouble installing some packages
(specifically the XML package) and saw advice on the list on how to install
R binaries using aptitude.  Now, I apparently have 2 versions of R installed
and depending on how I start R I get different versions. If I start R via
the Gnome menu I get R2.4 in a terminal window. If I type R in a terminal
window that I have opened I get R2.71.  In both cases R.home() shows the
same directory /usr/lib/R.  I seem to have a lot of trouble understanding
where things are and how to control profile files and start up options on
the Debian system.  Any advice would be most appreciated.

Michael Conklin

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