I've been trying to install debian 3.1 r1 (net-inst. cd-rom) but the system hangs during HD formatting. I use the suggested settings: 1 partition for all files and 1 swap partition.

I've tried with 3 different disks now. Disk 1 (16gb IBM) stops at 7% completion, 2nd (10gb IBM) stops at 13% completion and the 3rd disk (3.2gb WD) stops at 39%.

The file system is set to ext3.

A few seconds after it stops formatting scroll-lock and caps-lock starts flashing on the keyboard.

It's a P3 CPU 450mhz, motherboard: P3b-f with 256mb ram.

Any guesses as to why this i happening?

have you tried other fs, like ext2?

Yes, but the result stays the same.

weird.
Are you sure that your box is healthy?
Have you tried both ide channels?

Yes, tried both channels with the same result. I have no trouble installing windows XP on it. So I'm completely out of ideas.

sounds like a broken install-medium to me. Maybe you could boot from a live-cd-linux and try partitioning and formatting the hdd there.

It turned out to be a problem with a RAM module. When removed that module the system worked ok, no idea why this had any relation to formatting my hd, but in general the system behaved very strangely with that module installed...

Thx for the answers/suggestions 'baikonur' :-)

boaay.
nice.
congratulations, this could have taken weeks to figure out... you were fast!! :-)

cya,
baik