Trying to conduct clean install of Debian 3.1r4. Everything goes fine until the partitioner setup program executes. It locks up at 38% and sits there as of this post I have let it run for more than 30 minutes and no change.

All hard drives are detected
1) 60GB for everything
2) 2 300GB raid configured for data

I am using guides from:
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_setup_debian_sarge
and
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...appliance2.htm

I have used both a netinst and a full DVD set. Both have the exact same problem.

The hard drive is not bad it was running FC 4, yesterday, before I started this install.

What should I do from here? BTW I'm a Newbie so please spell it out.

Did you try the expert mode of the installer? The hardware recognition in the Debian installer is usually very good.

I'm not sure what the expert mode is or how to get to it. Willing to try anything I want to get htis machine up so I can learn and eventually leave WINDOWS!!

Thanks

I just pulled the HDD, it was an off brand, and installed an old WD 40G I had. I started the process again and it has now been siting at 38% for the last 15-20 minutes.

The screen says:
Starting up the Partitioner
38%
Scanning Disks...

The desktop I'm working with is listed below:
PWR SUP: ANTEC SP-500 500 watt
PROC: AMD XP3200+
RAM: CORSAIR 512MB DDR400 (PC-3200) X2
MB: MSI KTV6 (MS-7021 v 1) VT8237
HDD1: WD CAVIAR 40GB EIDE 7200 (WD400BB)
RAID - 1
HDD: WD CAVIAR 320GB 7200 SATA (WD3200KS)-1
HDD: WD CAVIAR 320GB 7200 SATA (WD3200KS)-2
GPU: 8/4/2X AGP NVIDIA GEFORCE 6200 OC 256MB DDR
NICS:
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR DP83815
BRIDGECOM INC NC100 NETWORK EVERYWHERE FAST ETHERNET 10/100
VIA TECHNOLOGIES INC VT6102 [RHINE II] - ONBOARD

That's strange. Your hardware is more then adequate to run Debian. I suspect one of the following:
a) Your hardware is failing. Check with a Knoppix CD to see if that boots.
b) The (onboard?) raid controller is not (fully) supported in Linux. Disable the RAID stuff (disconnecting both disks will do)

I will try that, disconecting the raid. I just installed FC4, retail DVD, and it went without a hitch.

Dutch Master,
Thanks for the help so far the install is running along smoothly. It was the raid drives. I will have to figure out later what to do with all that storage. I goal of this box is to be a network backup device. Will gladly take any recommendations for packages to install (I believe that is the correct term) to do networked backups.

Moving forward with the install.

Good! Keep in mind that Sarge (Debian 3.x) is quite old, and so is the kernel it's using. That may be the cause of your problem. Install a new kernel to fix it. Or wait a few months before all bugs in Etch (the next Stable release as Debian 4.0) are worked out There are several threads dealing with installing a new kernel, use the search function.

Glad this was sorted out for you, but I thought I would put my note on the end of this.

I actually had the same problem with the partitioner hanging at 38%. My issue was actually a cheap USB card reader/Floppy Drive Combo. I would suggest if this issue comes up for anyone else disconnect all drives that are not needed for the install, Including USB storage devices.