16 replies to this topic

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

First of all, let me make one thing clear: what I want to do is install Debian to an empty 16 GB partition on my hard drive, so please don't tell me that I should boot it from a live CD or run it virtually on top of Windows, or that I should be using some other distro like Ubuntu. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do.

Okay, now that that's established, I have an empty partition that I want to install Debian to. It's about 16 GB - that's all I could get without deleting the Windows partition (and no, I can't resize it). I went onto the Debian website for directions on how to install, and there are several methods:

1. Download a small portion to a CD, DVD, or USB drive and then install it over the internet. I have no idea how this works.

2. Download a larger image file to a CD or DVD and install using that media only. I'm guessing a 3.5 GB USB drive will be sufficient for this.

3. Buy a set of CDs or DVDs from one of the vendors selling Debian CDs.

4. Buy a computer with Debian preinstalled.

I have a 3.5 GB USB flash drive that I just wiped so that I could put Debian on it. But there are several things I don't know. I have no idea how to install it from the drive. Do I just download Debian, install it to the flash drive, and then boot up from that? And how can I download it from the internet? Also, will I have to compile it from source? Will I have problems because I'm using AMD rather than x86, and where can I find an installer for an AMD-based PC? I am completely clueless about this, because I've never installed an operating system, let alone Debian.

EDIT: Here's the web page I'm getting this information from: Debian -- Getting Debian

[jpconleyiv]

Isn't there a thread for this already? lol!

Ok Here you go yet again: *Be sure to have a empty flashdrive on hand for this, at least a 1GB. Make sure its in the system.


1) UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads Download this install it. Be sure that you have already downloaded your Linux distro. Keep that distro as an image, which unless you mess with it, it will already be an image.

2) Open unebootin and you will see were you have to select your image and choose your linux distro. Once you complete this then 'ok' the program, or run it. I forget what the button says.

3) Now that unebootin is finished, you should eject the flash drive.

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4) IMPORTANT!! Re-start your computer into the BIOS menu and switch the HD to boot off of a flashdrive. Save this step. Exit.

5) Re-start

6) The computer will now boot off of the flashdrive once its re-started. This may take awhile do to the grub loader and all the files that need to be indexed.

7) Depending on what distro you decide to go with the install prompt should be on screen and once this appears you will install the distro as any other OS. However, if you are only using 16GB then install it to 14.5 or MAX 15GB.

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I have a 3.5 GB USB flash drive that I just wiped so that I could put Debian on it. But there are several things I don't know. I have no idea how to install it from the drive. Do I just download Debian, install it to the flash drive, and then boot up from that? And how can I download it from the internet? Also, will I have to compile it from source? Will I have problems because I'm using AMD rather than x86, and where can I find an installer for an AMD-based PC? I am completely clueless about this, because I've never installed an operating system, let alone Debian.

If you follow these steps that I have provided than you will have a bootable flashdrive with Debian linux.

Here are the websites for you will need.

Debian linux distro: Downloading Debian CD images with BitTorrent This is what you HAVE to download. Notice how it says CD or DVD and the options to the right. You are going to choose CD and AMD64.

Flashdrive boot software: UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads You need this to make your flashdrive bootable, this installs the image and rearranges file that BIOS recognizes to boot from.

DON'T FORGET! To go into BIOS and make your HD bootable from flash. I don't recall what the actual name in BIOS is but you will see. If you can't figure out why nothing is changing in BIOS its because you use the arrow keys and a series of other keys in BIOS.

My Turn: Questions for you to answer!

1) Why do you need this so badly?

2) Do you plan on learning Linux and its command line?

3) Why Debian? Its a fine distro I'm just curious as to why you chose it.

4) Are you sure that your ready to take on Linux?

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

To answer your questions:

jpconleyiv said:

1) Why do you need this so badly?

2) Do you plan on learning Linux and its command line?

3) Why Debian? Its a fine distro I'm just curious as to why you chose it.

4) Are you sure that your ready to take on Linux?

1. I'm enthusiastic about Linux and want to try a real distro, and I want to be able to run it without running Windows at the same time.

2. I already know a lot about the Linux command line and I use it daily.

3. I have been using Knoppix for over two months, and I've become accustomed to it. I want to try something less traditional than Ubuntu.

4. As I said, I have already been using Linux for over two months. The only thing I haven't done with it is install it.

I went to the link you gave me for Unetbootin. Downloading the USB drive images from the other page didn't work for some reason. I've got the page for Debian up, and there are options for unstable and testing. What's the difference between those two?

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

I clicked on squeeze and it brought me to a page with "other packages related to unetbootin" but no Debian installer.

[Milyardo]

Debian's unstable branch(also known as Sid) is the development branch for Debian, where the very latest version of all software in Debian resides. This software is usually untested, and it isn't uncommon for functionality to break with Sid.

Testing is the branch for the next release of Debian and as its name implies all the software in it is currently being tested(kinda like a beta).

Most of the time the software is exactly the same in unstable and testing, until Debian starts preparing for a new release where testing then "frozen" (ie, new versions of software can't be uploaded, only bug fixes).

[Milyardo]

Here are a few direct links then:
64 bit version of Debian - http://cdimage.debia...-amd64-CD-1.iso
32 bit version of Debian - http://cdimage.debia...5-i386-CD-1.iso

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Milyardo said:

Here are a few direct links then:
64 bit version of Debian - http://cdimage.debia...-amd64-CD-1.iso
32 bit version of Debian - http://cdimage.debia...5-i386-CD-1.iso

Is that an ISO to put on a flash drive?

[Milyardo]

Normally, this ISO is meant to be burned to a CD, but if you use UNetbootin, it will put it on your Flash drive as a boot-able partition.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

I don't have UNetbootin. I'm downloading the AMD64 ISO with Epiphany, which will probably store it in /tmp, then I'm going to copy it to my USB drive. Would that work?

[Alexander]

$ dd if=debian-505-amd64-CD-1.iso of=/dev/sd[x]

[Milyardo]

If you're using Knoppix to download it instead of Windows, then using the command dd will work.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Okay, I downloaded the ISO and ran dd. So now I restart and boot from the USB drive, right?