I've problems installing this netinst version of Debian.
debian-40r3-i386-netinst.iso

The system is a mini-ITX board from VIA. (VIA EPIA-EN12000EG)

The installation goes fine as long as I dont choose to download more packages from any internet site/ftp during install.

I have chosen to install a very minimal system with only the default system choice.

When I try to boot it up it stops/hangs at "NET: Registered protocol family 2".

Any ideas on why? Can it have something to do with my choice in *.iso?
Or my VIA system?

Any ideas are helpfull.

At first sight, this looks as if your on-board ethernet adapter isn't supported (or your connection's not in order - but I'm sure you checked plugs, cables and routers). I don't have any solution handy but trying more recent kernels - try using a sidux LiveCD to check ("lite"'s sufficient for testing purposes).

M.

Ok,

But shouldn't ths system boot even if my nic isn't installed correct?

I had a glance at sidux but I didn't find any cd/dvd-images just tar-ed files or source. Can you point me in the right direction of what files to dl?

Sidux main page -> at the left: link to download -> choose a mirror -> release -> pick you iso

Thanks,

Must have been blind or just stressed when I searched before.
I'm dl:ing it right away.

I just tested the Sidux Live-CD and it hangs on startup. I get to choose to start it but then the screen goes black and thats that.

I also tried Ubuntu 7.10 Live-CD and then I got:
"kernel panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init!"

Any thing els I could try?

frippera:

About booting: If the system needs a net connection to finish its tasks at hand, it'll hang if none's present.

The VIA system seems to be pretty hard to get working - but it's possible that you've simply run into some bad luck with either ISOs or CDs: The kernel panic points at a bad CD (probably a botched ISO, but could also be the burner or the disc). Did you check MD5SUM before burning? Did you verify results? An operating system's not a simple program, its integrity is pretty important.

There are countless possibilities to try to get the system up and running; I'd use some good LiveCDs first to determine what's working and what's not:

• KNOPPIX
• Finnix
• DamnSmallLinux
• Puppy Linux
• SLAX
• Debris Linux

It's no problem to ammend that list. I'm only recommending stuff I know enough about to be sure it might be helpful. The most interesting in your case are the first three: KNOPPIX is full featured, Finnix is bare-bones, DSL is extremely compact. If none of them works, you're in for a pretty tough time.

I found a hint that maybe Fedora might work for you, but I'm far from sure, and my own experience with Fedora on modest systems is not as good as with Debian and its derivates...

M.

Ok, I will start going thru that list tomorrow.

Thanks for all your time MoonMind!

I managed to install the Debian 4 netinst iso by adding the boot parameter "acpi=force".

Great! Sometimes, the most obvious solutions don't come to mind (at least, not to mine 8)). Again: good thinking (and/or solid research).

M.