Etch Network Install Problem

[murph1083]

I am trying to install etch on my desktop. After it loads the files it needs off the DVD (before partitioning the drives) it comes up with an error that says:

"An Installation step has failed. You can try to run the failing item again from the menu or skip it and choose something else. The failing step is: Configuring the Network.

I have tried to run it again from the menu but I get the same thing. Any Advise?

[Kojak]

Is the download okay?/not currupt/not a bad burn?
And how about providing us with some information on:
- the type of network connection that you need to set up?
- the type of hardware you use?

[murph1083]

Is the download okay?/not currupt/not a bad burn?
And how about providing us with some information on:
- the type of network connection that you need to set up?
- the type of hardware you use?

I told the installer to verify the CD and that all came back ok

Im trying to set up a network that just connects to a router at connects to a cable modem. Im not trying to create a small network...just need internet.

The network card is a cheap generic from walmart. The computer is an old Compaq I got 4 years ago with a stock Intel Motherboard, 1.6GHz, 256MB Memory.

[antidrugue]

The network card is a cheap generic from walmart.

What brand would that be? What model?

During the installation procedure, when you get the error, you can switch to debugging console with ALT-F4 and then you'll be able to view a more detailed error message.

You can as well switch to a normal console during install with ALT-F2 or ALT-F3, try

lspci

to know more about your card.

Also, you can try an "expert" install instead of the normal "linux" installation (at boot prompt). The "expert" installation will allow you to choose which module you want to load for your card.

Or you could just complete the installation, and not care about the network problem for now. Once you have a working system, we would be able to help you with that.

[murph1083]

i got the same error for partitions.

When i run alt+f4: Warning **: Menu item 'autopartkit' failed

and for the network install: Warning **: Menu item 'netcfg' failed

When i tried to check the DVD Integrity it said it was ok...could the discs still be bad?

[antidrugue]

I believe the Sarge installer was working good for you (you had Sarge installed before, right?): why not just use the Sarge installer and then upgrade to Etch? Or just do the Sarge installation in "expert" mode and choose "testing" as the flavor during the installation process?

Etch installer is a BETA, it might not work too good on your hardware for the moment.

[murph1083]

Yes, I did have sarge. How do I go about an upgrade?

[antidrugue]

How do I go about an upgrade?

Change every occurance of "sarge" or "stable" in your /etc/apt/sources.list file to "etch" or "testing", so in the end it looks something like that :

#Local Mirror
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main non-free contrib
#deb-src ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main non-free contrib

#Security
deb http://security.debian.org/ etch/updates main contrib non-free
#deb-src http://security.debian.org/ etch/updates main contrib non-free

#Multimedia
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org/ etch main
#deb-src http://www.debian-multimedia.org/ etch main

[Stargrazer]

You might try 'install noapic' at the very beginning of the install. The recent Etch seems to need that on older machines and NICs.

That might help. Or not.