I am trying to install Debian Sarge on VMWare. I have downloaded the debian-31r3-i386-binary-1.jigdo and the debian-31r3-i386-binary-1.iso files. I have burned the first iso file to CD but I'm not sure how to proceed. If someone can explain step by step how to start. I know I am to boot to the CD but how do I boot if there is no OS. I have several Windows OS on VMWare

Thanks

I'm not sure I understand your question, but you don't need an OS to boot from a medium. That is kind of the whole point of booting.

Anyway, you didn't even have to burn the iso to a cd to boot it in vmware. You can just set it's CDROM to read directly from an iso image. Then you just power on the virtual machine and it should boot from the image.

Step by step, first you rightclick your virtual machine in VMware and choose settings. Then, in the Hardware tab, select the CD-ROM and check the "Use ISO Image:" box. Select the iso image you want to use with the browse button and hit OK. Then it's simply a matter of powering on the Virtual Machine (and possibly hitting Esc and selecting CD-ROM in the boot options when you start it).

I can't get the VM to respond to my pressing esc - should I continually hold the key - I've tried several times

2- I put the ISO image file: debian-31r3-i386-binary-1.iso in as your suggested. Does the name of the file look right?
Thanx

I read to install the Debian on VM to create new Linux machine choosing defaults. Red Hat was the default version was that ok or should I redo choosing version "other"

Hit Play, click inside the window to give it focus and hit esc one single time. You should get up a boot menu. You should also see the "Press F2 to enter Setup, F12 for Network Boot, ESC for Boot Menu" just as the VM turns on. This is when you enter the Boot menu using esc.

I wouldn't know about the exact name, I'm not a debian user myself. As long as you selected the iso file you downloaded, and the file exists, you should be fine.

You should probably have selected "default linux", but you should still be able to boot with the vm. I have no idea about the importance of this setting otherwise, though. If it were me, I'd probably go back and select the right option just in case.

I am trying to install Sarge Debian 3.1 on VMware 5.5. I installed kernel 2.6. I am now at apt configuration and the installation is asking for another Debian CD. I installed using under CD-ROM the ISO image (I have the 14 CD iso images downloaded on my HD.) When I try to give the next CD by changing the ISO image to the next CD image it does not take it. It writes "found 2 package indexes and 0 sorce indexes." Then it stated, "provide a name for this disc, such as debian 2.1r1 disk 1" I wrote "debian disk 3". Apt config answered "Non-debian CD-ROM detected. The CD ROM drive contains a non-debian CD" Then the installation goes back to choosing the "method of apt (the Debian package management tool)should use to access the Debian archive." Then listing CD-ROM, ftp, http, filesystem or edit sources list by hand.

Please help!
squir

I was sad no one was able to help me but finally solved problem myself. Reading on internet helps! Just choose the ftp or http option and it does the rest itself.
squir