installing Debian from hdd
 

the documentation says to copy these files:
vmlinuz (kernel binary)
initrd.gz (ramdisk image)


to: /boot/newinstall/

but what about the rest of files in dvd.iso
where do i copy them? (does .iso need to be unpacked)

Hi,

It's not clear from your post if you want to do a netinstall.

If so: you don't need any other package, just use the correct kernel and initrd files (Have a look here: 5.1.4. Booting from Linux Using LILO or GRUB)

The netinstall files can be found here: Netboot: linux + initrd.gz

Hope this helps.

Thanks, but that's not what I want.
I downloaded 8 (!) dvd .isos (31Gb!) and want to install Debian64 without burning to DVD.

Already have Debian 32bit. Would it be better to start installation from it?
if possible, I'd like to use the same swap partition for both.

Hi again,

The first question that comes to mind: Why download all 8 ISO's? The only one you need is the first cd or dvd (quote: The first CD/DVD disk contains all the files necessary to install a standard Debian system.). Burning this first cd/dvd and running from that would be the way to go (just my opinion).

It is possible to use the 5.1.4. Booting from Linux Using LILO or GRUB. I'm not sure if you can place all dvd's to that location, but the documentation does say the following:BTW: "Sharing" swap is no problem whatsoever.

Hope this helps.

this is terrible. I have been searching for hours and hours and only found this:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=52153

why the hell isn't there step-by-step instructions in installer documentation.

Hi,

What is your specific problem? The link you provide is for a net-install (which you don't want, see post #3).

All the info needed can be found in the Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide (amd64 version)

In short, assuming you still want to use the ISO('s) from the hard-disk:

1) create a partition and format it,
2) create the /boot/newinstall directory on it,
3) place the initrd.gz, vmlinuz file and the ISO image into that directory (possibly all 8 ISO's, although I'm not sure if that works, see post #4. You can always try),
4) add the above to your current grub/lilo
5) reboot into this new entry,
6) start installing Debian.

Hope this helps.

I managed to install it using special initrd.gz and vmlinuz from
hd-media/initrd.gz

(I had been trying with vmlinuz from first .iso, that won't work)

btw, I'm very happy how fast 64bit version boots. hoping that installing additional applications won't slow it down much

Hi,
You indeed need to use one of the the special version (link was given by me in post #6 and it is mentioned in the install document).

Anyway: Glad to see you got this solved!

Can you put up the [SOLVED] tag (first post -> Thread Tools).

I am trying to install it again, but cannot find appropriate vmlinuz; official server (ftp.debian.org) has only this file:
[ ]installer-amd64/current/images/hd-media/ vmlinuz 17-Jan-2011 13:23 2.3M

it is TOO OLD. so there is 'kernel mismatch' error

argh..

Hi,

It isn't clear from your previous replies if you used my suggestion in post #6. It does look like it, in post #7 you talk about initrd.gz and vmlinuz from "hd-media/initrd.gz".

Here's the link again (same as post #6, point 3): Index of /debian/dists/squeeze/main/installer-amd64/current/images/hd-media/. Which holds the current (16:47 19-03-2011) versions of initrd.gz and vmlinuz.

Hope this helps.

thanks, but I tried your nl server too. its two months old and it gives an error when used with debiantesting.iso from this week.

it complains that kernel modules cannot be loaded because there is mismatch between installer and archive kernel.

Hi,

How about these: Index of /daily-images/amd64/daily/hd-media

Hope this helps.

that one fails with error 'cannot copy file from cdrom'...'check the media'...

but md5sum is ok, I checked it.

edit: another thing, the last vmlinuz (from daily images) is identical to the one inside .iso file.

edit2: installed it from DVD.