Bug#275427: Install halts with debootstrap exit error

[Barry Hawkins <barry@yepthatsme.com>]

Package: installation-reports

Debian-installer-version: Daily business card snapshot from 10/06/2004 
from http://gluck.debian.org/cdimage/testing/daily/powerpc/20041006/
uname -a: Linux finn 2.6.8-powerpc #1 Tue Sep 14 00:15:52 CEST 2004 ppc 
unknown
Date: 10/07/2004 20:45
Method: Boot from CD by holding down C key after chime; installed as 
expert-powerpc

Machine: Apple Titanium PowerBook G4 500MHz
Processor: PowerPC G4 500MHz
Memory: 1.5GB
Root Device: IDE1 master (hda) - 20.0 GB TOSHIBA MK2016GAP
Root Size/partition table:
IDE1 master (hda) - 20.0 GB TOSHIBA MK2016GAP
      #1  32.3kB                 Apple
      #2  27.6kB                 Macintosh
      #3  37.9kB                 Macintosh
      #4  27.6kB                 Macintosh
      #5  37.9kB                 Macintosh
      #6 102.4kB                 Macintosh
      #7 262.1kB                 Macintosh
      #8 262.1kB                 Patch Partit
      #9 819.2kB      boot       bootstrap
     #10   1.0GB      swap       swap         swap
     #11   9.7GB      ext3       root         /
     #12   6.0GB      hfs+       untitled 2
     #13   3.2GB      hfs+       untitled 3
          11.3kB      FREE SPACE

Output of lspci and lspci -n: N/A

Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it

Initial boot worked:    [O]
Configure network HW:   [O]
Config network:         [O]
Detect CD:              [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives:     [O]
Partition hard drives:  [O]
Create file systems:    [O]
Mount partitions:       [O]
Install base system:    [E]
Install boot loader:    [ ]
Reboot:                 [ ]

Comments/Problems:
Installation proceeded without issue, using ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu 
mirror for unstable install.  At around 12% completion of base system 
installation, an error message was issued:

[!!] Install the base system
Base system installation error
The debootstrap program exited with an error (return value 1).

Check /var/log/messages or see virtual console 3 for the details.

A check of the third virtual console showed:

<messages_excerpt>
  No matching physical volumes found
  No volume groups found
  Reading all physical volumes.  This may take a while...
</messages_excerpt>

Fourth virtual console shows:
<syslog_excerpt>
Oct 8 02:42:58 base-installer: info: Execution hook before debootstrap
Oct 8 02:42:58 base-installer: info: Running 
/usr/lib/base-installer.d/40netcfg
Oct 8 03:11:00 kernel: eth1: New link status: Disconnected (0002)
Oct 8 03:15:24 kernel: eth1: New link status: Connected (0001)
</syslog_excerpt>

This could very well be a network issue with the wireless LAN being 
used for the install, but there is an Aluminum PowerBook G4 next to 
that is not having any connectivity issues, and the unit has not had 
issues when booted into OS X.