Installing the Debian base system

[Guest_imported]

I have tried installing the Debian distribution on a 486 7 or 8 times now. Each time, I get as far as the base system installation screen. I am installing from disk, but I have downloaded the files twice and I have tried changing the disks I'm using to transfer them to the 486. The error is 'Error extracting base2_1.tgz.....'
Can anyone tell me what the hell is wrong? I am starting to get rather upset.
Tim B

 

[AndyBo]

What processor is Debian compiled for? It seems to be the trend to compile the main distribution for Pentium class machines, but offer a 486 or 386 copy elsewhere. This may lead to the problem you are seeing.

The other thing may be that the floppy or CD drive in the 486 is failing to read the media correctly.

Can you try running the install on a different PC to see if this might be the case? [sig]<p> Andy Bold<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>"I've probably made most of the mistakes already, so hopefully you won't have to..." Me, most days.[/sig]

 

[Guest_imported]

The 486 is the only machine I have available to install to. If I try it on the school's computer I will likely get trouble. I was using the i386 disks.
I guess I will just download the images again, and use a different set of floppies.
Tim