supply should generally include -y (for apt-get or aptitude ) or similar to avoid ... apt-progress --from 0 --to 45 -- apt-get -y install gnome debconf-apt-progress --frompackage manager like yum (1) or apt-get (1). In the first three forms, copyrequested packages. For example, run apt-get dselect-upgrade . Ordinarily, you will find that dselect