Netinst - graphical UI gone AWOL

[Radian]

In my first attempt at installing linux on a spare PC, I used etcher to write netinst to a usb stick and successfully used it to set up Debian on an old HDD using the nice graphical interface provided. Yay!
Today I decided to repeat the process (having swapped the HDD for an SSD) using the USB with netinst still on it - and the experience was totally different.
After POST, instead of the graphical UI I saw yesterday, there was just basic white text on a black screen with numeric entry options - and it started itself in speech synthesis mode! Why?
When it first booted, the only thing on-screen was a text line at the top showing the Author etc. and on the line below "Boot:" It seemed to be waiting for some input here but with no options presented I just stared at it until it timed out and started asking me about speech synthesis! What am I missing?

[Aki]

Hello,

After POST, instead of the graphical UI I saw yesterday, there was just basic white text on a black screen with numeric entry options - and it started itself in speech synthesis mode! Why?

The installer probably started in low memory mode, due to insufficient ram.

When it first booted, the only thing on-screen was a text line at the top showing the Author etc. and on the line below "Boot:" It seemed to be waiting for some input here but with no options presented I just stared at it until it timed out and started asking me about speech synthesis! What am I missing?

You probably installed only the base system (with virtual console only).

[juribel]

My advice would be: install from a live system with a desktop environment of your choice. Look here: https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/cu ... so-hybrid/. For easy installation and quick results with no surprises you might choose the Live ISO with Xfce.