Hi I have been using debian since pre woody. I recently bought a new dell inspiron 530. It uses the intel q6600 core 2 quad. To start, if I install a 32 bit system, works great if I use SID. I need the new kernel in sid to recognize my built in intel ethernet.

However, I have not been able to install any of the IA64 based debain releases, they wont even boot the installer. I read that I should try amd64 release. the base amd64 systems do install, but once I add kde and some other apps it locks on boot with usb and irq issues. I believe that this happens because it is installing a newer version kernel then the base install. I would really like 64 bit functionality. Does anyone know why IA64 does not work at all with my intel q6600?

and second, is this a common issue with newer dells and debian... as in an easy fix to get 64 bit?

thanks

2x sata2 320gb
intel q6600
3gb ram
onboard intel g33/31 graphics
onboard ac97 based audio
usb mouse, keyboard, usb powered speakers

Because IA64 is Intel's designation for their Itanium architecture. Intel's name for their AMD64-compatible architecture (e.g. your q6600) is EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology). IA64 systems are a completely different architecture.

"Amd64" is the name chosen by AMD for their 64-bit architecture. Before release, it was called "x86_64", and some distributions continue to use this name. Intel refers to its x86_64 instruction set CPUs as "EM64T". The architecture is still the same, and Debian amd64 will run on AMD and Intel x86 processors with 64-bit support. In honor of the inventing company, AMD, Debian uses the name amd64. However it can be confusing.

thanks that clears it up a lot. anyone familiar with why I might be experiencing lockups... ie any known common issues with dells and usb_irq errors on boot? I will copy the exact error message I am getting later when I come home. the base system was installed correctly, but after apt-getting kde kdm iceweasel icewm xoas i get stopped after the kernel starts loading with an usb_irq error

You probably better post a lspci output along with the error message.

... it locks on boot. is there a way to get in?.. if I can boot into it I shoudl be able to post that.

would I be better off putting the base system on again and get lspci from there...? but there is no means to get it off the system without X and a webbrowser...

if I install the 32 bit system, can I upgrade later to the 64bit based system? I didnt think you could bc so many packages would be different.

thanks

The way to get in is to install the correct version of Debian. IA64 is the wrong version. It will NEVER work with the processor you're using.

You need to install the AMD64 version.

The IA64 version will NEVER work. It will only work if you replace your CPU and motherboard with an Itanium server board.

Itanium was Intel's attempt at a 64bit architecture. It failed in the market so badly that Intel had no choice but to make processors compatible with the AMD 64 bit architecture (which was wildly successful).

he probably is, Isaac.


nbn - can you get into single user mode?

Post the last line it spits out (if anything at all).

Also - what Debian do you use? Stable,testing or unstable?

You might want to have a look here

There are a couple of things you can try mentioned.

Do you have a good reason for installing in multiple stages as you described?

Usually it is easier to get a LiveCD; Figure out how to boot all the way into KDE gui with just the CD (might require typing in some boot options to deal with peculiarities of the graphics interface, etc.); Then run the installer from the liveCD to get Linux installed on the hard drive.

Mepis has a very good live CD for 64 bit Linux with kde.

Mepis uses Debian repositories for the majority of its software. Once you have Mepis installed and running, it wouldn't be too hard to switch to pure debian, with a few settings and updates via the package manager, but I don't think you would want to. Mepis is easier to use and maintain than pure Debian.

I do have amd64 installed

I will try single user mode after work. and either way i will post the error message i get.

the reason I do stages is I dont want extra crap installed. the only reason im using kde is for my wife so she can use the computer also without the learning curve of icewm. not that kde is causing problem, its just bloated for my tastes.

i am using SID amd64. i need tha kernel to recognize my intel onboard ethernet. Stable and testing do not work. I dont think there is a SID-kde installer, and if there was I dont see how it would be different then apt-get kde

thx

ok here is the error, had to copy by hand on paper.

usb 3-1: can't set config #1, error-71
irq19: nobody cared (try booting with the "irqpoll" option)
handlers:
[<ffffffff803841cb>] (usb_hcd_irq+0x0/0x52)
[<ffffffff803841cb>] (usb_hcd_irq+0x0/0x52)
disabling IRQ#19

and then if I wait liek 5 minutes it starts spitting out lines of garbage like ata1:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

same thing in single user mode. again this is amd64 SID. it did not do this with the base install, only after apt-get install kde kdm icewm iceweasel xoas and then a reboot. I did notice that it automatically installs a new kernel when I apt-get those programs, and I dont know if that might be the source of my problem.

thanks

I'd try this just to see if it works:

Either adding "all_generic_ide" to GRUB *or* switching the SATA mode in the BIOS from "IDE" to "RAID" allowed it to boot normally.

Also try to throw "irqpoll" into Grub.

will switching to raid in the bios effect my winXP install on hard disk 1?

also say I boot into the system with another disk and make the changes in grub. what exactly do I do.... as in where in grub config do I add the lines and do I have to update anything after that? thanks!

It sounds like the problem may come from the kernel update.

Try this:

1) Do a clean fresh base install (do not select any software suites, not even the so called "base" software suite).

2) Do an apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade.

3) Reboot and see if you have these issues.

Debian Sid often updates the kernel, so this may be part of your problem. Rather than wait for KDE to download and possibly confuse the situation, you can just do an apt-get dist-upgrade to only update your base install.

ok.

1. just did fresh net-install debian amd64 SID. did not select any packages in the menu, including the standard package.

2. rebooted. working. did apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade. only upgraded bash... not the kernel.

3. rebooted after dist-upgrade, still working.

however, I am certain as soon as I install packages I will be in the same boat as before.... I have tried the install on this pc many times already.

can I hold back the kernel upgrade? has anyone else had this issue. I read the article posted earlier, but it was not clear how to fix it if I have a dual boot with winXP and cant mess with my BIOS.

thanks