Bug#186283: netinst cd problems (march24th sarge image)

[Drew Scott Daniels <umdanie8@cc.UManitoba.CA>]

Oh, it didn't take too long after all... continuing...
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Prompt: 1 - 24, default=Detect network hardware and load kernel drivers for it>
15
Debian Installer Main Menu

Please select partition on which to create swap space
Listed are the partitions available in your system.  Please choose the
partition on which you want to create swap space.  Note that this will
COMPLETELY ERASE that partition and any data on it.

Only partitions with type Linux Swap (82) will be displayed.
  1. /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 (default)
Prompt: 1 - 1, default=/dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1>
Debian Installer Main Menu

Ready to create swap space?
WARNING: all data on the partition /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 will
now be deleted.
Prompt: yes/no, default=no> yes
/var/lib/dpkg/info/di-utils-mkswap.postinst: 80: /sbin/mkswap: not found
Debian Installer Main Menu

Error while creating swap space
Unable to create swap space on /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1.
[Press enter to continue]

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Hitting enter
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di-utils-mkswap's postinst exited with status 256
installer[48]: Configuring 'di-utils-mkswap' failed with error code 256
installer[48]: Menu item 'di-utils-mkswap' failed.
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and so on...
Selecting 17 install base system
Works find until:
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P: 9091202 24594274 Downloading packages
P: 9091202 24594274 Downloading packages
E: Couldn't download gcc-3.2-base
base-installer's postinst exited with status 256
installer[48]: Configuring 'base-installer' failed with error code 256
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And so on...
I wonder whether it's related to the bochs log saying a tone of lines like:
00828463311i[HD   ] cdrom: SEEK (ignored)

Trying 17 again... same errors.

Selecting 18. Install the kernel
It looks like it's trying to install base again... and fails with the same
errors of course.

Selecting 19 Intall Lilo on the hard disk
trying to install base again it looks like... It'd be nice if the error
message or some documentation could tell me how to recover from a failed
installation of base (besides trying again).

I'll try again another day with a fresh iso.

    Drew Daniels