Laptop Install Command Line With Networking Only

[Dai_trying]

Have you tried installing from debian-9.4.0-amd64-xfce-CD-1.iso and not installing the desktop, this should give you a basic installation (which can also be done offline) and you can sort out the wifi once installed (that way you only configure it once).

I just tested in a VM and you just need to uncheck dekstop utilities and xfce when asked what software to install. During the installation you will be asked about networking card, simply tell it not to use one for the time being as you can set it up after install.

I understand this might not be exactly what you are looking for but it might be a possible solution.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

If you know how to make the USB without unetbootin, would you mind telling me? The tutorials I'm finding don't work for me...

Your search-fu is poor

Always stick to the official Debian documentation, the installation guide is a good place to check so try a search for

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debian stretch installation guide

Then go to section 4.3.1 and follow the instructions.

Output of "ip link"

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1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP>mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN mode DEFAULT group default qlen 1 link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00:00
2: wlp7s0: <BRODCAST,MULTICAST> MTU 1500 qdisc noop state DOWN mode DEFAULT group default qlen 1000 link/ether 0c:8b:fd:56:7d:3d brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

"/etc/network/interface"

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source /etc/network/interfaces.d/*
# The loopback network interface

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
dns-nameservers 8.8.4.4
wpa-ssid XXXXXXXXXX
wpa-psk xxxxxxxxxxxx

^ You have a perfectly functional wireless interface but you have called it the wrong name in the interfaces file...

[bw123]

Is this now relevant? https://www.blackmoreops.com/2014/09/18 ... -in-linux/

Probably?

The only way I get to command line is with a unetbootin made USB. Which I was told to immediately reinstall - but they didn't say how to make the USB with wifi firmware added - so I'm back to unetbootin.

So... I can try your advice to work with the wifi - but it's a unetbootin install - so I'm hosed from the get-go.


For today's session - I've been at this since 5:30 am. It's now 4:53 pm - another 12 hours wasted - in a string of days... ..it shouldn't be this hard - there's something I'm missing and I figured someone here would know what that is..


Can any one tell me how to install a laptop with command line and networking only?

Surely I'm not the only one that's attempted it.

You missed the part about reading the documentation. Debian installer won't setup wifi in ifup. You do that yourself, not that hard there are thousands of inernet postss about it.

Sounds like your the kind of dad that puts the bicycle together before reading the instructions? My dad was like that, made some weird bicycles.

[Pear]

Some good responses and things to try..

New question:

I know the packages I'm wanting to install..

I tried to add using d-i but it didn't work after repacking as an iso. I created a file called "preseed.cfg" and put it in the root of the iso, when that didn't work I added it to "install/" and "install.amd64/" - neither of those worked either - so I don't know if the problem is the preseed file or the rolled up iso.

Here is the d-i line:

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d-i preseed/late_command string apt-install xorg lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter mate-desktop-environment-core in-target;

Seems like I should be able to install the base system, then have late commands to tasksel to install what I'm needing (packages are in repositories) - because I have both a connection and a target.

I got the info from the Debian docs - but there's something I'm missing - for instance, I only found one place that told me where to put the preseed file; "in root", when that doesn't work, I have to try in another location, etc.. etc.. I don't know if it's the file, the line, the location or the roll-up - which makes it hard to troubleshoot the issue.


Does anyone know a working method to add a d-i preseed to just tell the installer what I'm looking for? How the line should be, where to put it and how to roll it back into an iso?

[bw123]

I'm confused by the whole thread. You have spent days and days, at least one twelve hour day, trying to remaster an iso for what reason? You don;t have to recreate the iso to use firmware during install, and there's no reason to use preseed just to do one laptop? is there?

Always stick to the official Debian documentation, the installation guide is a good place to check so try a search for

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 debian stretch installation guide

found this searching: debian "hp split"
http://www.linlap.com/hp_split_13t-m100_x2_pc

[Pear]

I'm confused by the whole thread. You have spent days and days, at least one twelve hour day, trying to remaster an iso for what reason? You don;t have to recreate the iso to use firmware during install, and there's no reason to use preseed just to do one laptop? is there?

What are you talking about - It shouldn't be confusing, and I am using firmware.

The laptop has a 128G drive, so I'm wanting to install the core Mate desktop only.

It's how I install my desktop PC using Ubuntu (what I'm typing to you now from). After the mini install, my NIC is recognized, so I can just grab my install script from my server using wget and run it to install the core desktop (without all the extra stuff).. I prefer no extra stuff installed - for instance, I don't use any text editor in the repos, I use a paid Sublime Text editor. I don't use any movie player, I use my own custom built firefox and it plays local files just fine - etc..

I'm switching to Debian for the first time. I had been using Ubuntu since 2006 for home machines and my servers are all RHE - so I thought maybe there was something I was doing wrong with Debian or this laptop, and hence the post here - which confused you.


Really, I shouldn't need to explain why I'm wanting to do something. Your answer simply wasn't helpful.


I'll get it figured out - thanks to all that responded helpfully.

[None1975]

I use my own custom built firefox and it plays local files just fine - etc..

Sounds interesting. Do you have github repo?

[Wheelerof4te]

I see you got it figured out, but I'll leave this for future reference:

The laptop has a 128G drive, so I'm wanting to install the core Mate desktop only.

https://wiki.debian.org/Mate

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apt install mate-desktop-environment-core

Which gets you pure MATE without extra cruft and only a file manager+terminal.
Also, a fair warning about not mixing Ubuntu and Debian packages/repos. So your script shoult point to Debian mirrors, using Debian's package naming format.