Donald, >I can't explain what is going on, but perhaps I can offer an >alternative. I have done about 4-5 installs of Debian >"potato" for the Alpha using ftp. I have a quite nice Cable >Modem connection, and everything goes quite smoothly. If I >recall correctly, just before you get to this point you have >a question about how you want to install the "base system", >which includes the drivers. One of the options is to >install this via ftp, and that is what I used. If you >choose this option, then it will immediately jump to >configuring your network and selects the closest mirror then >starts the d/l. This only works, I assume, if your ethernet >card is already detected as mine was. Using this method, I >did NOT have to d/l and use the "driver" disks and the >appropriate file(s) was selected for me. It looks like this >would be a viable alternative, even over a slow link for >installing the "base" system plus driver modules. After >this is done, you will re-boot and continue the installation >and you again have a selection point on the method to >install the rest of the packages. Just a thought....the ftp >method is really nice if you have a good link. Much faster >than d/l and burning an iso file on a CDROM!
I know of this method, and it will probably be the one I end up using if I can't fix the driver disk. I have tried this in the past, but with less than perfect results. I keep loosing the ftp connection. I've also tried it by transfering over http, but with the same result. I think these problems are related to my router... Maybe I'll have another go at it if the disks don't work out. Thanks for the hint. - IT
