Alright, decided Slackware was waaaay over my head for how little free time I have right now, so I decided to switch to Debian for now to see how I like it. That said, Debian cannot find my network connection (first distro I've tried that's had this problem,) and so it freezes while trying to retrieve "libc6" and hence cannot finnish the install.

I do have a FAT32 drive that Linux and Windows XP (where I'm posting from now and I dual-boot between this and Slack right now,) so is there some type of config file someone here's done that I can slap onto that drive and call up during the install?

The ITS department here doesn't like us using multiple OS's on one computer, so I can't exactly ask them for help. Blah.

I guess my question in a nutshell is this: how can I make sure I have all the files Debian is going to want/need are already stored on my hard drive or in some other non-network way? I don't mind manually configuring the network setup after install; I just don't want to be running into so many problems before the OS is even on my computer.

Thanks! ^_^


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I don't really understand your trouble. If you download a cd to install debian (for instance the netinst cd), the installer doesn't need to fetch anything. At the end of the installation process you have a running OS...


Btw as you're a jesus freak here is a link just for you : http://siteouebe.free.fr/hbl_come.mp3

Since a net install isn't working, try downloading the first debian install DVD (many of the repositories will have it available) and boot from that. Then all of the files necessary for installation will be in an "off line" format. The second and third dvd's contain more optional packages. You might consider them if you can't get the ethernet card working at all, although I'd suggest installing from the first DVD and then investigatin a linux driver for your ethernet card.

Just the 1st install(2.6.8 kernel) cd will get you basic desktop and cd14 if need ndiswrapper.
Remember that you can open another terminal(ctl-alt-f2 or alt-f2 i forget right now) to fix a problem-like picking correct nic module then go back to original terminal(F1) and continue install.For newer hw try etch cd1/cd14(2.6.12kernel). Follow netinstall notes then http://aboutdebian.com/install31.htm is great guide. Have fun.
Genieos is 1 cd sarge install. And kanotix-2005-04 and SimplyMepis are etch/sid. Sorry you gave up on slackware.

What it's saying is "Retrieving libc6" and it freezes there, says it can't find it, and quits. I copied down some info from my network connection under Windows and I'm going to see if it's enough. I'm wondering if the mirror I downloaded from was using an ISO without all the needed files on it, just so it could apt-get everything else. If this next try doesn't work, I'm going to put it on the back burner and try again later. :P

And lestoil, I do intend to go back to Slackware one of these days; I just don't have the time now to play with it like I'd hoped I would. I was debating between Debian and Slackware for the longest time anyway. :P