Cannot install Debian
 

I'm sure this isn't the first time you've heard this one. I am attempting to install Debian 4.0r3 (Etch) on my home computer. I am trying to install thru Windows onto an unformatted partition. However when I select the Debian installer at boot, I get an error message telling me that it cannot locate the drive. This computer is using a SATA HDD (Maxtor STM3160215AS 160GB). What am I doing wrong and how can I get from point A, where I am now, to point B, a fully installed dual-boot system.

Try installing Lenny (Testing) instead. Etch can be installed on Sata drives, but it is helpful to know what you are doing. The Lenny installer is more forgiving, and Lenny is quite stable in it's own right.

i am not sure what you mean by INSTALLING THRU WINDOWS... are you putting the Debian DVD into the computer while windows is running and trying to run something there? if so, that is incorrect and should not work.

burn the disk 1 ISO (either the DVD or the CD, really does not matter as long as you have an active internet connection) and use just that to install the system.

put it in the DVD/CD player, boot the computer and hit "ENTER" when prompted.

if you are still getting an error (can not find the HDD or something to that affect when you get to the partition portion) then you might need to grab the 3rd party drivers for your MB (mother board) sATA drivers to tell Linux how to talk to them.

that is typically ONLY needed when you are installing RAID.