On Wednesday 30 March 2016 16:17:29 Alan McConnell wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Christensen" <dpchr...@holgerdanske.com> > To: debian-user@lists.debian.org > Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 12:30:49 AM > Subject: Re: Repeated failure of install of Jessie > > On 03/29/2016 01:08 PM, Alan McConnell wrote: > > ... The _many_ install attempts crashed at random points ... > > And now I'm meandering, for I don't know what further information to > > give, that will help the members here to make further suggestions. But I > > shall be grateful for any help I receive. > > Back up your data (if you haven't already done so). > Long since done! Please be aware that because of failures where > the install has crashed/collapsed/failed, my wheezy is toast; all data is > history. > > > Get another working computer that you can use while installing Jessie. > <LOL> I am in a retirement community environment where computers > do not grow on every tree. > > Download the Debian Installation Guide for your architecture and language: > > http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual > > > Then follow the guide, taking detailed notes as you go -- what step in > the guide, what you did, what result you obtained, any error messages, > etc.. If you run into problems, post your notes up to that point and > people on this list should be able to explain what's going on and why, > and help you succeed. > I have read the guide online. It contains nothing that I did not > know, or have not followed. It says nothing about un-explained > failures. > > I have two further requests: 1. does anyone know how to proceed > from the prompt 'grub>' There are all kinds of commands available > from that point; will any lead me to the goal of getting a kernel > to boot? > > 2. What about Ubuntu? I can buy, or get a friend(not on campus > here) to make a boot Ubuntu disk. Ubuntu is sort of in the Debian line, > and can be made to support apt etc. Does it install without random > crashes? > > Thanks for anticipated help! > > Alan, who has been using Linux of one sort or the other since 1994, but has > never had such problems before
Unfortunately, Alan, all those who have not had any problems assume PEBKAC. You know that you didn't do anything stupid. I know that I didn't do anything stupid. But the result was stupid. Ergo we must have. :-/ Only one or two people are taking that attitude though. I have had some useful help. Most people on this list are helpful. If you like Debian, you won't like Ubuntu. Perhaps try an expert installation, accepting the defaults where possible and taking notes at every stage, as has been suggested? Someone may then be able to help you. Is it remotely possible that your computer/motherboard has chosen this moment to go in the blink? And might I suggest that you try what worked for me on the other machine I had a lot of trouble with last week. What you did has worked for me and for many in the past. It is not working for either of us now. Let's assume PEBKAC to keep everyone happy, but still for the sake of sorting things out: Get hold of a Live CD. I would happily send you one, but I am on the other side of the pond and am about to go away, so out would take a bit of time. But if you don't mind waiting, send me your snail-mail address off list. Once you have your live CD, check that the machine does still appear to be working. Then use Gparted to clean the disk up properly. You say that it is too late for backups. Then try again, but do a normal installation using the defaults, and see what happens. Good luck. It worked for me last week. (All logic says that it shouldn't make any difference - but it worked.) Cheers, Lisi
