I'm trying to install Debian 13 with KDE on my ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which I got about seven months ago. After my initial installation attempt, I realized I couldn't download NordVPN because I didn't have wget. I followed guides to install wget using terminal commands, but it seems my OS installation wasn't complete. In multiple attempts to reinstall, I hit a snag when the installer couldn't find a DHCP connection due to either my router not having DHCP or a slow network connection. My laptop also shut off during one installation because the battery died. Now, during a fresh installation, it freezes for hours at the "updating the list of available packages" stage. I can't exit the installation screen or even power off the laptop normally. I've tried secure wiping my drive and using the automatic install option, but nothing helps. I need to know how to safely exit the installation and get it to finish successfully.
3 Answers
Always keep the laptop plugged in; running out of battery could mess with the installation. You should consider using a rescue tool like PartedMagic or GParted on a USB flash drive to set up or re-partition your internal drive before starting the install process again. This step might help clear out potential issues that are causing it to hang.
Don't forget to keep your laptop plugged in during installs! Trying to install wget is straightforward; you just need to enter `sudo apt-get install wget` in the terminal. If it doesn't work, it might be due to issues with your sources.list file. You could also consult the Debian installation wiki for step-by-step guidance.
Also, make sure to install using an ethernet cable whenever possible. It's way more stable than Wi-Fi, especially during initial setup. Good luck!
I can't use ethernet right now, but I'm thinking about getting an adapter. I tried `sudo apt-get install wget`, but it didn't work—seems like a sources issue. Thanks for the wiki links, I'll check them out!
I've had trouble with Wi-Fi during installs too, definitely look into that adapter.
It sounds like you have a lot going on! First, try holding down the power button for several seconds to force a shutdown, if that’s not working, let us know more about your laptop model. Also, when you did the secure wipe, what happened exactly? Did it complete without errors? Make sure you’re using a reliable USB drive to install from; double-check that it’s prepared correctly, and you might want to check for any corruption too. If possible, do a live boot and run some disk checks to see if everything’s functioning properly. Lastly, what's your network situation? Some setups do better with a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi.
That sounds like a plan, but I’m stuck on the install screen. How can I exit it to use the USB?