Installation Troubleshooting
Comprehensive solutions for common issues during Debian 13 installation.
🚫 Boot Problems
Cannot Boot from USB
🔍 Solutions
bash
# Check these items:
1. BIOS/UEFI Settings
- Enable USB Boot
- Disable Secure Boot
- Disable Fast Boot
- Adjust boot order
2. USB Drive Issues
- Recreate boot drive
- Use different creation tool
- Verify ISO integrity
- Try different USB ports
3. Hardware Compatibility
- Check minimum requirements
- Update BIOS firmware
- Remove unnecessary hardwareBlack Screen or Graphics Issues
🖥️ Display Problems
bash
# Boot parameter adjustments:
1. Press 'e' at GRUB menu
2. Add to linux line:
nomodeset # Disable graphics drivers
acpi=off # Disable ACPI
noapic # Disable APIC
vga=normal # Standard VGA mode
# Safe Graphics Mode:
3. Select "Advanced options"
4. Choose "Safe graphics mode"🔧 Hardware Compatibility
Network Card Not Recognized
🌐 Network Hardware Issues
bash
# Check network information:
lspci | grep -i network
lsusb | grep -i wireless
# Common solutions:
1. Use wired connection for installation
2. Download non-free firmware image
3. Manual driver installation:
# Download firmware-linux-nonfree
# Place in /firmware directory
# Post-installation driver setup:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install firmware-linux-nonfree
sudo apt install firmware-realtek
sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifiAudio Driver Issues
🔊 Sound Device Problems
bash
# Check audio devices:
lspci | grep -i audio
aplay -l
# Install audio drivers:
sudo apt install alsa-utils pulseaudio
sudo apt install firmware-sof-signed
# Configure audio:
alsamixer # Adjust volume
pulseaudio --start # Start audio service💾 Disk and Partitioning Issues
Hard Drive Not Detected
🗄️ Storage Device Issues
bash
# Check disks:
sudo fdisk -l
lsblk
dmesg | grep -i sata
# Common causes and solutions:
1. SATA Mode Settings
- Change SATA mode to AHCI in BIOS
- Avoid RAID mode
2. Hardware Connections
- Check SATA data cables
- Verify power connections
- Try different SATA ports
3. Drive Compatibility
- Some NVMe drives need BIOS updates
- Check drive health statusPartition Table Errors
⚠️ Partition Repair
bash
# Check partition table:
sudo parted /dev/sda print
# Repair GPT partition table:
sudo gdisk /dev/sda
# Select r (recovery)
# Select d (use main GPT header)
# Select w (write table)
# Repair MBR partition table:
sudo fdisk /dev/sda
# Press w to write new partition tableUEFI Boot Issues
🔧 UEFI Repair
bash
# Manual EFI partition creation:
1. Create FAT32 partition (200-500MB)
2. Set boot and esp flags
3. Mount to /boot/efi
# Repair GRUB:
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /boot/efi
sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi
sudo update-grub🔧 Installation Process Issues
Package Download Failures
📦 Network and Repository Issues
bash
# Check network connection:
ping google.com
ping deb.debian.org
# Change mirror sites:
1. Select nearest mirror
2. Use local mirrors:
- US: ftp.us.debian.org
- Europe: ftp.de.debian.org
- Asia: ftp.jp.debian.org
# Manual network configuration:
sudo dhclient eth0 # DHCP
sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.100/24 dev eth0 # Static IP
sudo ip route add default via 192.168.1.1Insufficient Disk Space
💾 Space Management
bash
# Check disk usage:
df -h
du -sh /*
# Free up space:
sudo apt clean # Clean package cache
sudo apt autoremove # Remove unneeded packages
sudo rm -rf /var/cache/apt/archives/*
# Resize partitions:
sudo resize2fs /dev/sda1 # Expand partitionTime Zone and Clock Issues
🕐 Time Synchronization
bash
# Set timezone:
sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York
# Sync time:
sudo ntpdate pool.ntp.org
sudo systemctl enable systemd-timesyncd
# Fix dual-boot time issues:
sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 1 --adjust-system-clock🖥️ Desktop Environment Issues
Desktop Won't Start
🎨 Desktop Repair
bash
# Check display manager:
sudo systemctl status gdm3
sudo systemctl status lightdm
# Reconfigure display manager:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
sudo systemctl restart gdm3
# Install missing components:
sudo apt install --reinstall gnome-core
sudo apt install xorg
# Start desktop manually:
startxResolution Problems
📺 Display Settings
bash
# View available resolutions:
xrandr
# Set resolution:
xrandr --output HDMI-1 --mode 1920x1080
# Add custom resolution:
cvt 1920 1080
xrandr --newmode "1920x1080_60.00" ...
xrandr --addmode HDMI-1 1920x1080_60.00🔍 Diagnostic Tools
System Information Collection
bash
# Hardware information:
sudo lshw -short
lspci -v
lsusb -v
cat /proc/cpuinfo
free -h
# Boot logs:
dmesg | less
journalctl -b
sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog
# Network diagnostics:
ip addr show
ip route show
cat /etc/resolv.confMemory Testing
bash
# Using memtest86+:
1. Select memory test from GRUB menu
2. Or download memtest86+ ISO
3. Run complete test (may take hours)
# System memory check:
sudo apt install memtester
sudo memtester 1024 1 # Test 1GB memory🆘 Emergency Recovery
Rescue Mode
bash
# Boot to rescue mode:
1. Select "Advanced options" in GRUB
2. Choose "recovery mode"
3. Select "Drop to root shell prompt"
# Mount filesystems:
mount -o remount,rw /
mount -a
# Repair boot loader:
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sdaLive USB Recovery
bash
# Using Live USB to repair:
1. Boot from Live USB
2. Mount installed system:
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/efi
3. Chroot into system:
sudo chroot /mnt
4. Perform repair operations
5. Exit and reboot📞 Getting Help
Log File Locations
bash
# Important log files:
/var/log/dpkg.log # Package management log
/var/log/apt/history.log # APT operation history
/var/log/Xorg.0.log # X server log
/var/log/installer/ # Installation logs
~/.xsession-errors # Desktop session errorsCommunity Support
💬 Get Help
- Official Forums: forums.debian.org
- Mailing Lists: [email protected]
- IRC Channel: #debian on OFTC
- Reddit: r/debian
- Stack Overflow: Use 'debian' tag
📚 Related Resources
- BIOS Settings - Boot configuration
- Create Boot Media - Installation media
- System Recovery - Disaster recovery
- FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Installation issues resolved? Continue with first boot →