too many files

[COLiNx86]

lately i've been trying to get linux installed first i tryed ubuntu but couldn't get it to work and then i tryed xandros but am not really a fan and i'm about to try ubuntu agian but i really want debian 4.0 there's just way to many files. no way am i going to download 21 iso's for an operating system. is there any easier way with like one cd or dvd?

[tbroderick]

If you are connected to the internet, you can use the net-installer (http://www.us.debian.org/CD/netinst/). Only 184 MB. Or just download the first CD. The other 20 are not needed to install. They are just full of all the stuff from the repos.

[CREEPING DEATH]

You only need the first CD or the net installer, the rest are fairly useless.

CD

[Bachstelze]

You only need the first CD or the net installer, the rest are fairly useless.

...unless you do not have an Internet connection, in which case it is very useful to have 21 CDs full of apt-get'able packages.

[Pobega]

...unless you do not have an Internet connection, in which case it is very useful to have 21 CDs full of apt-get'able packages.

Even if you don't have an active internet connection, you really don't need all 21 CDs. The first few should suffice, seeing as the ISOs are created by using the results from popcon (The Debian package popularity contest), so the most popular (And required) packages make it to disc one, most popular but not required make it to disc two, and the less popular packages make it to disc 3, and so on so forth.

But as long as you have an internet connection at installation time you should be fine; The only problem would be if your ethernet doesn't seem to be supported by the net-installer (This IS possible, since from what I understand some are still proprietary).