edit
answer to original question: you only need the first cd, but get the first two to install.

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The install 'per se' can be done with only the first. I burned the first 5, and didn't need the others so far.
To make it safe, download the first two. In any case, the install process is gonna query you about how many cd's you have.

yup... one or two is enough after you'll make your ipw2200 work and you'll continue...
Good luck!

I put up the other day this quick guide on downloading Debian. I hope you'll find it useful.

you're almost there

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so i installed it yesterday with just the first cd .. well i don't want to be an ass so let's just say it didn't work out exactly as well as i had hoped. long story short, i got pissed and restored my ubuntu tar files. but ...

i've been looking forward to seeing this os for so long i need to give it another go. i think a few patient hours doing some configuation should pay off with a really stable and hopefully fast system.

issues:

1. ipw2200 wireless card would not compile into kernel (tried several approaches: invalid module format)
2. i couldn't compile a 2.6.11 vanilla kernel (BS compile error)
3. using a .deb kernel package almost worked but wireless card wouldn't go
4. kernel-headers-2.6.8.2-686 was not on cd1 (possibly on cd2 if so my fault) (need this to build wifi card)
4. xserver wouldn't start

so inorder to fix these problems i need google and some help here. i should be able to handle it as i've had the old version on this machine before. i'm going to shrink my /home partition and put debian on 1/2 of that and use chroot through ubuntu to get these straightened out. then i'll make snapshot of the file system, repartition and set it up. basically i was just impatient and underprepared, but ubuntu has me spoiled i guess. this is a good thing .. or is it?

specific questions:
1. how do i add an external module to the kernel?
2. how do i get the xserver working? please don't say post that 8 meg log file ...
3. intel 855gme i810 1280x800 anybody have an XF86Config-4 file for me?
4. can i use the old xfree86?
or
5. any possilbe way to use xorg from ubuntu? this would be great but i doubt it can be done.

ah a better idea:

i could install woody again, i still have all the config files and it should be pretty easy getting it up and running. then i could dist-upgrade up to sarge. that's probably the way to do it.