[plug] Constant rebooting while installing Debian 2.1?

[Matt Bruce]

Hi all,

I'm trying to install Debian as dual-boot on a Fujitsu Lifebook 531T
notebook (Pentium 133, 2.1GB HDD, 32MB RAM, PCMCIA 3COM NIC and Hayes modem,
etc) and am having little success. It installs and loads Redhat (Mandrake,
actually) without a problem. I'm trying to get it to the point where I can
use NFS to install the packages, etc.

However, when I boot from the Debian 2.1 boot disk it does the SYSLINUX and
"Loading root.bin..........." lines quite happily, then does most of the
"Loading linux........" line, but just as it appears to finish that line the
computer resets, and will keep resetting at that point if I let it.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and, more importantly, found a
solution or workaround? I've browsed through the Ethernet- and
PCMCIA-HOWTOs, but they just make a few suggestions and give references,
some of which I have tried. Short of spending half a day trying different
boot options, I'm buggered if I know what the problem is. The hardware works
fine under Doze ('95) and RH/Mandrake.

If anyone could give shed some light on the matter, it'd be great. Debian is
the distribution I need/prefer, so suggesting some other flavour/distro
isn't a solution. :)

TIA,

Matt Bruce
matt.bruce at alphawest.com.au