hi there,
when i try to update my kernel, Linux tells me it can't find it:

'package kernel has no installation candidate'

I'm actually starting to wonder how much of debian sarge I've installed (i know its a max of 2 out of 7 cd's) ..

Where can i get the kernel upgrade from, is it only available via a web connection?

thanks in advance,
howard

Do "apt-cache search kernel-image". You will get choices. Pick one suitable for your machine. Yes, you have to get it from the net.

Why do you want a newer kernel? Is the one you have not working? A kernel is not something to change just because somebody says it's cool. You need a reason. Otherwise, you are asking for problems you don't need.

Ahhhh...thankyou cougyr.
Firstly, I was probably unable to do this then, because I am using installation cds, and the pc is isolated from the web for the time being.

This is the second time someone has mentioned why bother upgrading to me. In truth, i wanted to upgrade it because *another* person thought it was a good idea.
Considering my lack of experience with linux/debian, I probably don't want super advanced kernels or packages, but instead stable ones.

I think I'll concentrate more on basic commands, Xwindows and apt-get.

thanks,
howard

well, if your kernel is 2.4, of cuz there is a reason to upgrade it to 2.6.
to check your kernel, run
uname -a

search for the kernel-images by running
apt-cache search kernel-image-2.6

and install the kernel suitable for ur system.
apt-get install kernel-image-2.6.8-xxx

after installation just reboot. its tat easy n painless.

And the reason is . . . ?

BTW, I have tried your method several times and it hangs on my machine. 2.6 can't find my hardware or my fonts and it hangs. I have no idea why.

oh, sorry to hear u cant update ur kernel, maybe u can try point ur respositories to a nearer mirror?
2.6 supports USB hotplug better.

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/20...0203023723.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/doc...ml#What-is-new

Thanks for the reply. I can download the kernel-image, or the source. The problem comes after install when I try to boot up and discover that it has not found my hardware and it hangs trying to find my fonts. I can't find out what went wrong, because the only thing I can do at that point is to turn it off and re-boot in the old 2.4 kernel, which leaves me no log to analyse. I have a Duron 800 cpu rinning on a MSI K7T Pro2 mb with Via chips. I have two ethernet cards and an ATI video card. There's nothing terribly exotic about it.