I'm almost a complete newbie when it comes to Linux, I've tried out Knoppix and Fedora, but Fedora seems too simplistic, and I like the idea of using the console to do things as in Knoppix, so I decided to try Debian, as I've heard that it's a little more powerful than other distros, and Knoppix is Debian-based as well.

While trying to install it from the "sarge" 3.1 net install disc though, my system seems to lockup when I get to the language select screen, or when I try to run it in the "expert" install mode, it locks up in the same way at the installer main menu. I've tried plugging in a different keyboard, because I thought that perhaps the laptop keyboard stopped responding, but I get the same result with a different keyboard...

I can see the menu, but I can't move the selector, and it doesn't seem to respond to any keyboard command. The harddrive light doesn't flash either, so I'm pretty sure that it's just not loading. I've also let it just sit there for a while, with no change.

I've also tried installing it off of the main sarge 3.1 installation discs, but I get the same result. I haven't seen any other threads about this problem (Though I simply may not have looked hard enough), so I'm thinking that it's either some extremely obvious problem that I'm looking over completely, or just a very rare problem.

I would appreciate any insight to this problem (or even a bonk on the head if it's a completely obvious solution )

I've tried running the netnist disc on my desktop now, it seems operate normally at the point that it sticks on the laptop... I'd really like to get it working on the laptop though. My laptop is an 'HP Pavillion ze5185', is there any known issues with laptops that could prevent the installation?

Sorry if I'm being too much of a bother, and if there's any other information I need to supply to allow people to help me, I'd be happy to give it.

Thanks for any help.

Anyone have a clue? I'm thinking the most likely possibilty is the laptop is just dieing, as it is pretty old, which is why I'm installing Linux in the first place: Windows XP keeps crashing and giving blue screens of death, even after multiple re-installs and Hard drive reformats.

But it's still a weird problem, I can press Enter to boot from the disc and to start the installation, but not to select the default language (English)... Nothing responds at all when on the language select, forcing me to reboot. Is there perhaps a method to run the install with a text mode instead? Maybe that would do it...