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Package: installation-reports
Boot method: CD
Image version: debian-testing-i386-netinst.iso
Date: 11-17-2006
Machine: Custom
Processor: AMD Athlon +2100
Memory: 1GB
Partitions: n/a
Output of lspci -nn and lspci -vnn:
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot: [O]
Detect network card: [O]
Configure network: [O]
Detect CD: [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives: [O]
Partition hard drives: [E]
Install base system: [ ]
Clock/timezone setup: [ ]
User/password setup: [ ]
Install tasks: [ ]
Install boot loader: [ ]
Overall install: [ ]
Comments/Problems:
My hard drive is all ready partitioned the way I want it. I could not figure out how to get past your partitioner to install Debian where I wanted it without the possibility of destroying existing data.
Your partitioner seems to insist on creating a swap file, why do I need this with 1GB of RAM, other distros don't require a swap partition.
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On Sunday 19 November 2006 02:49, W Talley wrote:
> When I boot off the CD and the main partitioner screen comes up, both
> hda1 and hdb1 have a "B" showing. However, only hda1 is bootable, hdb1
> is just data. I would think that hda1, hda2, hdb2, and hda5 (where I
> want Debian) should all be bootable. If I try to set a bootable flag
> on hda5, then all the "B's" disappear except for one at hda5. I need
> four bootable partitions, but the partitioner will only allow for one.
> Maybe I don't understand what "bootable" means in your partitioner. It
> would be nice if your help file explained what to do for a multi-boot
> system.
No, this is not how boot flags work. The boot flag indicates to the
BIOS "please look for a bootloader on this partition". There can only be
one bootflag per harddisk. Which harddisk is used for booting, is a
setting in your BIOS.
Note also that the partitioner will always show a confirmation dialog that
shows what changes will be made.
Also, you should always allow the partitioner to format the partition you
want to use as your / partition. You can skip creating a swap partition;
the partitioner will warn about that, but you can ignore the warning.
> I'm sorry I don't get all this. This is the first time I've ever used
> your installer. Up until now, every Linux distro I tried had a
> graphical installer and they were all very easy to use. I hate to say
> this, but your installer's help file leaves me just a little
> "helpless."
The "help file" is just a very short explanatory text. If you want more
detailed information, read the installation guide [1].
I'm closing your report as basically there is nothing that you want to do
that cannot be done with the Debian installer/partitioner. And a lot of
people have used it successfully for both simple and very complex setups.
We are aware that the partitioner is not the most simple to use, but it
_is_ one of the most versatile partitioners in any distribution.
The setup you want is not all that complex, but does require manual
partitioning and requires you to be careful so you don't damage existing
partitions. It also requires a bit more knowledge about how a system
boots and how to configure a system for multiboot. But hey, you are the
one that wants to create something more than a simple setup...
How you want to boot Debian is completely up to you. You can let the
installer set up grub, and it will do its very best to also support any
existing operating systems you have.
You can also choose not to set up a bootloader (use <go back> when you get
the first grub question and choose the "no bootloader" option in the
menu.
Note that even though your report is closed, you can still reply to this
mail.
Cheers,
FJP
[1] http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/
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