Can't install Debian Sarge

[jyer]

Hi,
Just dowloaded Debian Sarge 3.1 that I'm hopping to use as a server.
I first downloaded the first cd (debian-31r2-i386-binary-1.iso) from the debian.org website (via a German server) and started the installation. As the "load installer components from CD" menu started, a mesage poped up annoncing that copying files from the cd had failed and invited to check the cd's integrety, which I did. It turned out the Cd is "not a valid Debian Cd-Rom".
I hence downloaded a second iso of Debian Sarge (actually took the netinst this time, seemed like a good idea) with which the same problem occured.
Has anyone got an idea?
Thanks in advance for any answer,
jr

[techieMoe]

Are you checking the MD5Sums of the ISO files before you burn them? Also, what speed are you burning them at? A lower speed lowers your chances of a bad burn. Are you also trying to download them from different sources? Could be the FTP you got your original set from has corrupt files or just won't transfer correctly to your box.

[jyer]

Thanks for your reply.
How do I check the MD5Sums of the ISO? Is there anyway to check if the file I downloaded actually corresponds to the one on the server? I use wget to download my isos, which, so far I know, automaticaly compares (at least the size) of both size once the download is completed.

[techieMoe]

Thanks for your reply.
How do I check the MD5Sums of the ISO? Is there anyway to check if the file I downloaded actually corresponds to the one on the server?

That's exactly what MD5Sum does. Usually FTP sites offer an MD5SUM text file along with their ISOs. Download this and compare it to your ISO file using the md5sum command. I forget the exact syntax, but it's something like this:

md5sum -c MD5SUM.txt

It will compare the sums in the text file to any ISO files in the directory and give you a PASS or FAIL accordingly.

[jyer]

Hi,
Well, I downloaded Debian for a third time, did a md5sum on the iso, burned the cd at 4X and ran the K3b check once I finished and, guess what, I still get the same error message...

[antidrugue]

As techieMoe recommanded, checking md5sum usually does the trick in 99,5% of the cases.

Which installation are you trying?

With the default 2.4 kernel?

linux

at prompt

Or with the 2.6 kernel?

linux26

at the install prompt?

So try different installation methods with the Debian CD (F1 for help at prompt). I know for a fact the installation with the 2.6 kernel doesn't quite work right on one of my system. The contrary could be true on your machine.

If you still get that error message during the install process, then switch to console #4 with ALT-F4 (the installation output console) and post the exact detailed error message.


Plus, you could:
-check that you have the latest BIOS avalaible for your motherboard
-check that you have the latest firmware avalaible for your CD-ROM

[jyer]

Hi,
Thanks for your intervention.
The error message published during the install process is the following:

cdrom-retriever: info: retrieving udev include and exclude file
cdrom-retriever: info: retrieving package list
anna[3124]: grep:
anna[3124]/cdrom/dists/Release
anna[3124]: No such file or directory

If someone could tell me who anna is...

[antidrugue]

Seems the installer doesn't quite detect your CD-ROM correctly.

Are you trying the default install (kernel 2.4) ?

If so, try with kernel 2.6 (linux26 at prompt). If not, try with kernel 2.4 and upgrade to 2.6 later.

After all this has failed, then post the exact CD-ROM model, we'll find the module, for which you may have to manualy insert the module, and re-run the CD-ROM detection part.

[jyer]

I've been using the 2.4 kernel. How do I install the 2.6 one?

[antidrugue]

So try different installation methods with the Debian CD (F1 for help at prompt).

At the install prompt, instead of just typing "ENTER", try "F3" for information on different installation methods.

linux26

is one of them.