apt-get install fglrx-driver has solved the problem. I had overlooked a message at the start of bootup stating a radeon nonfree display package might be required. (Its on the screen very briefly - it took me three reboots to read it). The notes on the fglrx-driver actually suggest trying the newest free driver xserver-xorg-video-radeon. That came with the netinstall, was properly installed and the system did come up with a working gnome desktop.
In fact, many users might never encounter the problem I found. If all the user wants is a working gnome desktop and has no use for or is unaware of the tty terminals the netinstalled system is fine. Tom -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130902175442.ga22...@tomgeorge.info