I'm running debian 2.6.8

I was originally using GRUB bootloader to dual boot between linux and windows XP. Unfortunately SP2 destroyed my chances of doing that. Seeing as there are programs that I need to use on windows that linux doesn't run I've been looking for a solution to my problem.

I found VMWare and am mid installation and was getting this problem:
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What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is not an existing directory.
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So I changed the path to /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1/include and got this problem:

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What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1/include

The directory of kernel headers (version 2.6.8.1) does not match your running
kernel (version 2.6.8). Even if the module were to compile successfully, it
would not load into the running kernel.
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Any ideas about what to do? Help is appreciated.
Thanks

Welcome to LQ!

Figure out what kernel you actually are running with uname -r, make sure you have the source for that kernel installed (2.6.8 is not the same as 2.6.8.1 -- you appear to be running the former), and point the VMWare install to that kernel directory's includes. Since VMWare builds several kernel modules, it's important you get this right.

BTW 2.6.8 is the kernel version, not the version of Debian.

so it turns out i'm running 2.6.8

but there's no linux 2.6.8 folder in /usr/src
there's only 2.6.8.1
am i looking in the wrong place or should i update my kernel?