[Solved] Boot DVD don't Work; Jessie with added Firmware

[D'Artagnan]

I would like to upgrade from Win8.1 to Debian 8. This post might require some Wind expertise as well. I have to deal with the dreaded UEFI interface.
I got the iso with the added firmware from here: http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unoff ... are/8.1.0/
The i386 download and it appears to be 334 MB. I pretty got it because I don't want to mess with the wireless controller (been there done that.)
As far as the Wind side goes I disabled secure boot. Just whenever I get to the fancy blue screen, I select boot from EFI DVD. Then it just says it can't load it and asks if I want to continue loading the OS. This might be helpful I used the default Desktop Burning Gadget to burn the disk image.
Thanks in advance for all helpful comments.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Use USBWriter to transfer the ISO image to a USB stick.
http://sourceforge.net/p/usbwriter/wiki/

If you can only use a CD/DVD, try ISO Master

Don't worry about UEFI -- as long as the ISO image is booted in EFI-mode, it is all done "automagically"

[Katz]

Hi,

I also had trouble booting the cd in UEFI mode, and eventually gave up on it. However, the netinstall boots perfectly in UEFI mode. Maybe you should try it, if of course it is suitable for you to do a net installation.

32 bit:

Code: Select all

http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/8.1.0/i386/iso-cd/firmware-8.1.0-i386-netinst.iso

64 bit:

Code: Select all

http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/8.1.0/amd64/iso-cd/firmware-8.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso

[D'Artagnan]

I think I will try iso master. DVD's are a pretty affordable option. I got 50 4.9 gig disks from Walmart for $20. It might be a good idea in the future to get some small jump drives. Anyone know of any 1 gigs for like 2 bucks?

Katz, I am doing the netinstall as evidenced by the fact that the size of the iso is 334MB

[D'Artagnan]

Head_on_a_Stick, iso Master appears to be only for Linux. I don't have access to a Linux machine right now.

[D'Artagnan]

So any good alternatives for what is let's face it an inferior OS.

[kiyop]

How about reading https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#record-windows ?

Maybe offtopic:
It may not help you.
I am not familiar with Windows 8.1 although I have one desktop where 8.1 can run, because I run 8.1 less frequentry than once a month
If you really need my help, I will run 8.1 and check if the above helps.

[swirly_cloud]

Regarding alternative software for burning ISOs on Debian, you should have look at the following official documentation: https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#record-windows . Personally, I have used ImgBurn and do not recall using Window's inbuilt tools. It is freeware and should allow you to burn an ISO. Unfortunately, the installation manual does not go in-depth on how to burn CDs/DVDs (these acronyms are often interchangeable nowadays) from various OSs.

About UEFI, you can have a read in the official installation manual (chapter 3.6: https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/ ... 06.html.en), which has some good notes on the difficulties you might encounter. Summarizing, you must disable secure boot and fast boot, the latter in case it stops you from getting to the BIOS boot menu and you cannot change it beforehand. Lastly, you can see if your UEFI BIOS has a switch to use legacy mode within the setup menu. However, this should not be required as all recent images of Debian are ready to detect and operate under either of these systems. In addition, Jessie is even superior in that regard, if you have a look at the 8.0 change log.

I am making a lot of assumptions about your hardware and your installation needs, so make sure to add some more information if there are any constraints.

Give us an update. Thanks.

[millpond]

I think I will try iso master. DVD's are a pretty affordable option. I got 50 4.9 gig disks from Walmart for $20. It might be a good idea in the future to get some small jump drives. Anyone know of any 1 gigs for like 2 bucks?

Katz, I am doing the netinstall as evidenced by the fact that the size of the iso is 334MB

Walmart DVDs typically blow chunks.

Most people use them for media where a few mangled bits would not be noticed.
For a few dollars more you can get Verbatim Azo's from Amazon. 100 cost me around $27.
Burn them at `1/4 max speed for best reliability.
Linux has dreadful support for optical media, especially UDF. Its probably better to use Imgburn in Win, and make sure to enable verification.
The Linux burning software software I have seen is simply horrible.

On a Staples brand, it took me three tries (3 dvds) to get one that would install Mandriva.

A better option, if available as a boot option, is to use a USB stick and copy the image over with dd:
http://superuser.com/questions/591234/c ... e-on-linux

[D'Artagnan]

I used Imgburn at 3x speed and that worked. I set up three partitions. The larger one for testing(what's it called now), smaller for Debian 8, Jessie, and of course a swap partition. I put the boot flag for the smaller one; Though unfortunately the OS installed on the larger one.

I planned to install stable first. Later the plan was to tinker with testing. I guess I can always just use GParted Live.

[kiyop]

The larger one for testing(what's it called now), smaller for Debian 8, Jessie, and of course a swap partition. I put the boot flag for the smaller one; Though unfortunately the OS installed on the larger one.

Set each mount point manually. Do not rely on the automatic partitioning or the default configuration.

[D'Artagnan]

kiyop, by mount point I think you mean positioning on the HD. The larger partition is at the beginning. The smaller one is at the end. The swap and about 100 gigs free space are in the middle. Am I correct in my assumption? Additionally I put the boot flag on the smaller partition thinking the OS would be installed on it. Wrong was I. The installation occured on the larger partition.

Also for some reason I have no root terminal.

[kiyop]

by mount point I think you mean positioning on the HD.

No. You can set the mount point to be used by the installed debian at partitioning step manually.
Furthermore, you can select "Don't use" at file system setting or so to make the installed debian not mount the partition.
You can set non-first partition as root (/) partition at manual partitioning. The physical location of partitions (order in the media) does not fix the mount point of the partitions.
Furthermore, boot flag does not make the partition automatically root (/) partition, although MBR (with old msdos type partition table) will load the PBR of a partition with boot flag in some case.
Do not select automatic partitioning. Select manual paritioning at partitioning step during debian installation.

[D'Artagnan]

I did not use the graphical installer, and I set up the partitions manually. Do you recommend resizing this partion with GParted Live? I guess I rushed into the installation without learning first how to correctly set up partitions. My plan is to use stable as a fallback if testing crashes.

[GarryRicketson]

Do you recommend resizing this partion with GParted Live?

I have had real good results useing GParted to resize and setup partitions, from a live CD,
it is easy to work with. I am less experienced then the others helping you, so you should wait and see what they say too.
This seems to be a pretty good tutorial on using fdisk, to do the partitioning.
But it also goes into where the swap partitions should be, etc, the info could be usefull
even if you use gparted.
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Partition/fdisk_partitioning.html
I am pretty new at a lot of this too, so best wait and see what the others say.

[kiyop]

I set up the partitions manually.

Thus, you probably did not set mount point correctly at partitioning step during the installation of debian

Do you recommend resizing this partion with GParted Live?

If the size of the testing partition is too small and if the size of the stable (jessie) partition is too large, you may.
But if you do not know well about partitioning, resizing may cause some problem.
If there is not a severe problem, do not resize and use testing. Resize when you think you know well.