Well, I have to say I love Ubuntu and Mepis, but I've read a lot of threads where people will say something like, "Sure, sure. Start with those. Eventually you'll want to move on to pure Debian."

Okay. So I'm thinking of moving on to "pure" Debian. Problem is every time I go to download some ISO images, I see seven of them. Clearly--correct me if I'm wrong--I'm not to download all seven. If that's true, can anyone give me (or link me) to a guide for which one or two to pick?

Find the 1-cd 'internet-install' ... Use that.

Those 7 CD's are for Woody, which you most likely don't want to install because it's the old version of Debian, released back in 2002. A newer Debian release, called Sarge, should come out within one week. But you don't have to wait for the official Sarge release -- you can already install Sarge using the new Debian Installer and then use apt-get (or aptitude) to start tracking either "sarge" (that becomes "stable" very soon), or "testing", or "unstable" Debian branch. If you have a fast network connection, just pick up the "netinst CD image" (100 Mb) that will install only the base system and you can download the rest via network:

http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

Here you will find a short explanation of the three Debian branches (stable, testing, and unstable):

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Debian

Ubuntu uses the same new Debian Installer but Ubuntu's version has been tweaked for extra ease-of-use (Ubuntu sets up Gnome and XWindowSystem automatically while with Debian you need to choose which the desktop environment you want and you also need to configure XWindowSystem manually), so you might want to print and read the Sarge installation manual (linked on the installer page) beforehand, or at least browse these screenshots to see how the installation is supposed to proceed:

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/sl...se=184&slide=1

hello

if debian net-install cd wont probe my network card (ipw2100) then which disk should i download?

You can also download the sarge iso's,all 14 of them. Just get the sarge netinstall about 100mb's If the installer doesn't pickup your networkcard you need to load the module for it if its supported.

I found out that its a wireless network card you have I no nothing about wirless try searching forums or wait for someone to answer your thread

I'm in the same situation - using Ubuntu but I'm bored with it (probably because it does everything for you ) plus there are a few package compatibility and stability issues which are a little annoying, so I'm seeking Debian 'purification'. I'll grab the CD in a few days after I've read a few more Debian manuals.

Well, that's the kicker. Your network card doesn't include the firmware on the actual card. The drivers exist, but it's technically not allowed to release the firmware with the driver.

Long story short, people release the two together anyways, but you'll have to look in probably "non-free". You'll probably have to install first, then use a different internet connection to get ipw2100.

what do you mean by "install first"?

what to do until i can install the fw? (how many cd i need to dl (in windoze)?)

(my wired nic card no longer works, yeah it is broken)

i have tried ubuntu too and have same issue with you

and worst of all, ubuntu raped my partition table and made my FAT32 partition unreadable in both linux and windows........

Here's a website that walks you through it... scroll down to the section titled "Independent Modules for Specific WLAN Cards"

http://ldp.hughesjr.com/linuxfocus/E...ticle361.shtml

thanks...but actually i know how to do that when i have the "make" command...

but the problem i have is that i dont have that command on the net-install cd...(i have no nic card that
works besides my intel pro wireless 2100 card.....)

so the only thing i can do is to grab the ISO image of Sarge and install......

my question is actually "which cd(s) contains the "make-essential" tools so that i can install the driver?

thanks