This is probably a very obvious "Newbie" question, but honestly.... I haven't been able to work this out. I really like Debian, but I'm having trouble getting the bugs worked out. I wanted to install the stable Sarge, but Sarge cannot automatically recognize and configure my cable modem in the installation process...therefore, no online access. Etch can identify and configure the cable modem successfully, but after installation there are problems getting the OS to run smoothly with various applications....especially KDE. I'm not sure if it's because there are Gnome applications by default.

I'm assuming that I could manually install the modem and IP information.... that is if I knew where to find all the IP, gateway, and other information needed to provide during the installation process.

Stick with Etch. It'll be the "Stable" version within a month or so anyway. Address the specific problems you're having with "getting the OS to run smoothly."

Well, installing Etch is the way to go, as it's becoming Stable soon. Iron out the glitches with KDE, what is giving you troubles? Did you install the latest drivers for your hardware? (what hardware do you have anyway? ;-))

Network stuff is located in /etc/network. I presume you have a dialup connection? Install the packages pppconfig, ppp and kppp. When you've configured your dialup connection properly use the ifconfig, ifup and ifdown commands to configure, bring up and shut down your network :-)

one problem is that Etch only will recognize and configure my ethernet/internet access when I use my cable modem connected to my Netgear wireless router (which I no longer need or want, since I am a one computer family again ). another oddity is that randomly the monitor will become distorted ( colors seem to be reversed, especially black and whites ) either when logging on, or after the screen-saver (default Gnome screensaver or various Gnome screen savers, as I have tried several to remedy the problem, as well as no screen saver) has been intitiated and I try to get back to the desktop. This requires me to shutdown and re-boot the computer to get the video corrected. I have an NVidia graphics card. And one other oddity that I can recall presently is that sometimes when surfing the web, using Firefox, the web browser for no apparent reason will instantly close.
My dilema is that I like the clean look and stability of Gnome, but I wish I had use of the many more applications in KDE. Specifically K3b, Amarok, and Videolan.

my sincere apologies for not being able at the present time to advise of the specific hardware..... ethernet card, etc. as I am at work for the next several hours.

to the best of my recollection:

AMD64 processor
NVidia 6500 graphics card
Viewsonic 1912wb monitor
Epson R260 photo printer (no driver available as yet)

You don't have to use KDE to use KDE apps. If you want to use Gnome, I would start by:

# aptitude remove kde
# aptitude install k3b amarok vlc

Which video driver are you using? Are you running the AMD64 or a 32-bit OS (k8 or i686)? Have you tried disconnecting the router altogether and plugging the cable modem directly into the ethernet port?

A better solution would be to leave the router in place, but connect the computer to it via an ethernet cable. If Debian does not recognize the network connection like that, try powering down the PC, resetting the modem and router, then booting up again.

I'm using the k8, i386 version of Etch.

router/ethernet situation:

tried to disconnect router altogether.... ran ethernet cable from cable modem to computer via ethernet card.....not recognized

tried resetting modem, unpluging, disconecting cable, shutting down computer, then re-booting with cable modem connected via ethernet cable to ethernet card..... still not recognized.

it appears that for either Sarge or Etch to do auto configuration of my internet connection ability, I have to use the wireless modem. That works flawlessly during the installation. I just don't like going out over the air when I don't have to. Security phobia I guess.

Assuming you have a physical cable running from the router to the PC's ethernet port:

Desktop|Administration|Networking

...and see if you can activate eth0 from there.

please pardon my confusion, but wouldn't that then be going through my wireless modem?......what I am trying to eliminate?

I am hoping to disconnect the wireless, and go directly from cable modem to computer. thereby avoiding the security risks of wireless.

Maybe it's not eth0 ... From the networking gui you should be able to see your computer's regular ethernet port, and try to activate it.

thanks. I'll give it a try tonight when I get home.

glad to hear about Etch going stable soon. I really like that distro above the others I've tried.....

Mandriva
SuSe
Xandros
Ubuntu
Kubuntu

well..... I totally stuffed that up. Tried resetting my modem after disconnecting the router, even made sure that eth0 was enabled, but evidently I messed up indicating what my IP address, gateway address, netmask, etc. because I completely lost my internet connection. I tried putting things back to the way they originally were (apparently unsuccessfully however).....and after a couple hours gave up. This morning I conceded defeat and used the disc to re-install Etch. Now I'm back to where I was..... able to get online, but still having to use the wireless router.

time to do more reading and research I suppose.

Perquisitor,

You say you run the k8, i386 version. That is not possible. It is either K8 or i386. (or K7 or something else, but not both k8 and i386 at the same time.

I agree with the other posters here that Etch is the way to go. Much better HW support.

Look at you kernel, it must be at least 2.6.17. I heard 2.6.18 is released now. Installing Etch with an ancient kernel coming from Sarge (2.6.12) yields you problem: it runs, but just not right. And make sure you have the correct kernel for your CPU

jlinkels

ah..... interesting.

then I have installed the i386 version. (did not understand they were different).

when I get back home tonight (at work again) I'll investigate the Kernel version. I will admit, I'm very naive about configuring, compiling, and working in the text editor. I know I need to read more about how to do this so I can learn it, however, being in college full time, and working full time leaves little extra time to study yet another complex subject.

just wondering however.... if I install Etch from the ISO CD I burned about 6 months ago, then did the updates online through synaptic update, wouldn't that update my kernel?