Before I get started let me tell you that I'm a complete linux n00b. I have never ran a Linux OS and just installed this one laste nite. Anyways...

During installation of Debian 2.4.x it completely skipped the "configure the network" step. When it got to selecting sites to receive updates from that wouldn't work either, couldn't connect.

I did some reading and entered the command lspci which gives me "02:06.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., ltd: Unknown device 8169 (Rev10)."

Apparently Debian doesn't detect my nic. Here are some specs, not sure what you need....it's a Realtek RTL8169/8110 Family Gigagbit Ethernet Nic running on a MSI k8n neo2 platinum with an amd64 3500+.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

you will have to either compile a module for it or recompile your kernel.
the module for your NIC is in the kernel sources for 2.6.x.
It is probably even part of the 2.4 kernel version

I had the same problem, only in a Mepis 6.0 dis. I got it working when I did a "ifup eth0" then everythink worked OK. "Ifconfig" didn't see the card only the loopback until I manually started it Still researching how to start at startup. there is a thread here on the problem, but so far no answer. Hope this helps somewhat.

it is indeed a fact that debian 3.1 doesn't detect your r8169 straight away. Realtek 8169 isn't installed as module or compiled into your kernel by default. So i'm afraid you'll have to add to this module to the kernel or reinstall the kernel itself. If you look at the debian forum you'll see a nice tutorial on how to reinstall the kernel. Maybe a nice idea aswel is to upgrade your kernel from 2.4.x to 2.6.x

if you require more information, ask

To get the data to start during boot-up...A) use a text editor, B)enable the device to start at boot-up, C) configure start at boot-up services by enableing and unableing the services YOU need at start-up only. Not the services YOU use later on during the session. Smoother boot-up. takes less time.

For the Networking Configuration during the setup prior the the first boot-up...In Linux Distro's there are scroll menu's that need to be used to see the complete menu. If not , YOU'LL only complete half the installation. More than likely causing the Distro to fail in the solicited anticipated behavior. So use the complete menu for better installs. Good luck.

Unless you have some specific reason to do so, installing version 3.1 is silly. Why do you want a 2 year old OS. Go to the Debian site, and download version 4.0, install it instead and your problem will be solved.

Thanks everyone for the reply. What finally happened is the local linux user group had a meeting and They were a lot of help. Seems like I was just out of date with a old Distro so I went to Mepis 6.5 Beta and everything worked.
Problem with me is I don't have the block of time to really explore like I would like to.
Thanks again Gary