Nobody else has any ideas about this besides Chris?
On Wednesday 12 December 2001 05:53 pm, Mark Seven Smith wrote: > Awhile back, I purchased a book, "Learning Debian > GNU/Linux", and was unable to install the version of > Debian that came with the book (the CD-ROM that was > included in the back of the book). > > So, I then purchased the CD-ROM's for Debian, version > "Potato", from a mail-order vendor. Still had problems. > > In the installation, the install program that comes up is > a simple text-based interface, with scrolling lists and > such. But if I try to scroll the lists, the whole > computer bombs--it just locks up. It is very strange; > the keyboard wont' work, the RESET switch won't work, I > have to power-down, and then power back up and reboot. > > I am booting from the CD-ROM (although I have tried > making floppy disks to boot from; but it didn't matter). > > I joined the "debian-user" list, to try and figure out > what was wrong. On the list, some people suggested that > my video card might be to blame; even though it works > fine in all other operating systems. The card is an ATI > Rage 128. It was suggested that I try WOODY Debian. > > So, I just received my CD-ROMs containing WOODY. > However, I STILL CANNOT INSTALL! What is going on? > > I can get through the installation process, by formatting > my hard drive ahead of time, and then just hitting > <ENTER> at each prompt. BUT THE REAL PROBLEM COMES when > I am supposed to choose "modules". I do not understand > this part, but in the book, "Learning Debian GNU/Linux", > at this section, they say that I should choose THESE > MODULES to install: > > Table 3-3: Modules To Install > > Catgory | Module > _________|_____________ > fs | binfmt_aout > fs | smbfs > fs | vfat > misc | lp > misc | serial > net | bsd_comp > net | dummy > net | ppp > > I show these, to point out exactly where in the > installation procedure I always fail. I cannot scroll > through these lists; in fact, I can choose the FIRST "fs" > above (binfmt_aout), because I don't have to scroll any > lists, I just have to click the down-arrow a few times to > get to where "fs" is, and then when I select that, > "binfmt_aout" is right there, and I select that, and then > it is fine. > > But when I go further down the list, the greater the > chances the system is going to lock up, WITHOUT WARNING. > > This is a simple, text-based install procedure. It > should be compatible with ANY basic video card. What is > going on? > > I am currently running Red Hat Linux 7.1. I can also run > (and have run just fine in the past:) SuSE Linux, > Mandrake Linux, and various other types of Linux that > I've tried. Also, I used to run Windows 95, 98, and 2000 > on this very system, with no problems. > > BUT I WANT TO RUN DEBIAN! > > The video card doesn't seem to be what's a fault, > anymore. I think the install procedure in Debian has a > flaw, somehow; but how? If it works for everyone else? > > I stripped ALL of the hardware out of my computer, except > what was absolutely NEEDED for the install--trying to see > what other pieces of hardware might be causing the > trouble. I also changed my keyboard, twice. I haven't > tried a different video card, because I cannot afford it, > and anyhow I am using that same video card in Linux, > right now (but tragically, this isn't Debian!) I am > running Red Hat 7.1, <sigh!> > > I have an ABIT motherboard, with 256 MB of RAM, a sis-gig > hard drive, a 30-gig hard drive, an Intel PII 400 MHz, > 300W power supply, D-Link DFE-530TX ethernet card, > standard SoundBlaster sound card, a 56kb modem card that > is not being used, a generic fast CD-ROM player (56X? I > don't recall), and a floppy drive. I am using a cable > modem box, for Cox@home Internet connection. > > Does anyone have any ideas at all? Please help! > > If there are alternative ways to install Debian from the > CD-ROM (automatic, for instance), then I would like to > hear about any & all alternatives; because I figure that > once it is installed, the problem will go away--after > all, Debian IS simply Linux, and I am using Linux right > now! :-) > > Thanks in advance, > > --Mark Seven Smith > [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
