Cannot Determine Codename!

Zssfssz · 02-13-2012, 07:13 PM

Debian 6.0.4 AMD64, halfway through installation and it says: couldn't determine Codename and the install step fails (multiple times) Does Codename really matter that much to the point where it can't install the system? Why Can't I manually type it in?

widget · 02-13-2012, 09:50 PM

That sounds very strange. Did you check the md5sum of the image you downloaded?

If the installer can't determine the codename I would assume that it would have trouble contacting the correct repo and then setting up your sources.list.

It really sounds like a bad image or a bad install media (I use a CD/DVD or the ISO booted with grub direct from my drive) problem.

If the md5sum is correct I would try burning a different disk if you used a disk. I have never used a usb stick but I think I would reformat it and try putting the image on there again if I had this problem.

widget · 02-13-2012, 09:59 PM

It would be nice to have the exact wordin of the error if you remember it. I have never even heard of that one and "couldn't determine codename" modifying a search for "debian installer" has gotten me nothing.

Did you use the standard install disk number 1 for your install attempt?

Or did you use the Squeeze Live CD?

If you can't get the one you used to work you could try the other. Check the md5sum whatever you do.

You rarely get a bad one and if you download a lot of them you can get lazy about checking them. That is when one decides to bite you on the butt. Well that is the way it works for me anyway.

Zssfssz · 02-13-2012, 10:35 PM

MD5 == Good, Used small installer, told it not to connect to the repos and just install base system and that might be it, the USB writer said "GNU/Linux" is a invalid version number... The USB is too small for the large ISOs, it also take priporatoy firmware (not related to other post) but install goes fine up to that point without it.

TobiSGD · 02-13-2012, 10:45 PM

You don't need an USB writer for Debian, just use dd to write the image to your pendrive, may be that helps, something like

Code:

dd if=/path/to/image of=/dev/sdb

where sdb is your pendrive.

Zssfssz · 02-14-2012, 12:17 AM

Argh! Why is it that whenever I need a Debian installed I have 50 blank DVDs but no CDs! Te dd thing just put a mountain of garbage on my flash drive(no offense), using jigdo to download the first DVD image now.