Bug#345717:

[Oren Laadan <orenl@cs.columbia.edu>]

Hi,

First, please note that the problem applies to Dell Dimension 3100,
which also known as Dell Dimension E310.

Second, the problem has to do with the USB controller, and is also
reported for Ubuntu (hoary and breezy), also reported there:
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/31070

Third, I managed to finally install by booting with Knoppix (which
boots ok) and "manually" installing debian with debootstrap, and
configuring a custom kernel appropriately.

I believe the problem is in the kernel configuration, which must be
modified for the debian kernel to operate correctly. Specifically the
offending option is CONFIG_HID_FF: Force Feedback Support (experimental)

Device Drivers->USB support ->
    Support for Host-side USB ->
        USB Human Interface Device (full HID) support ->
            HID input layer support (USB_HIDINPUT [=y])

The debian (and install) kernel are complied with this option set. The
solution is to unset this option. The new kernel (without this option)
boots smoothly.

Hope this will be part of the next installer/kernel versions.