The Problem
I was installing on an amd64 architecture, from a live install on a bootable usb. The install required a network connection and I was using my wireless when I saw this notice:
Detect network hardware
Some of your hardware needs non-free firmware files to operate. The firmware can be loaded from removable media, such as a USB stick or floppy.
The missing firmware are: iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode iwlwifi-5000-1.ucode
If you have such media available now, insert it, and continue.
This error describes that the wireless card cannot be installed because some of the drivers used to install it are non-free (which means non-open source), and not present in the installer in order to keep it open-source. This is because my card is an Intel of 5000-series. What to do in this situation? There are two solutions. I would reccomend the first (like many other users), but if you want to play with your installation, give the second option a try.
The Solution
i. Use ethernet instead! You will still need an internet connection to install your Debian system from a live bootable usb/cd, but it is reccomended to use the cable during the installation. In this scenario, the wireless card will not be installed at first, but you will be able to install it later in an easier way, following the instructions: here. (ask in the comments if there are unclear steps)
ii. You will need to load the firmware files thorugh a media (usb or floppy). You will need to find the required files from a non-free repository and then put it in your usb drive (FAT filesystems preferred) in the main directory or a directory called /firmware, as described here. You can do this by switching workspace on the very same computer on which you are installing Debian.
Hi i am a newbie in debian, just got started to install the i386 dist. The installation was smooth if it was run in VM platform while still retained Window OS as host machine.
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, i tried to perform a real installation into my spare laptop, and there was where the nightmare begin, and many hours wasted to keep trying to resinstall over and again. I was facing the same problem too, the wifi interface, after a few attempt trial and error, manage to fine the necessary .ucode to activate my wifi interface, i saved it in my USB drive and did the installation again, well this time my wifi interface is working, i judged it by the blue wifi light was ON. However, it will not get through when i was trying to select mirror site to install apts....finally i started to suspect the network connection, so i goes into my router web and try to see if my computer is actually connected....as expected the status is still " not connected to network"....despite the blue wifi light is still ON!!! what the....anyway the .ucode file is actually from non-free dist. so i guess these file is not fully compatible with my wifi interface, ie. it may activate the interface but unable access or detect any open wifi network.Not sure how technical things work here.
I have tried downloading full installation in a DVD, but seems the downloaded .iso file from the torrent was not a bootable type. Also tried the live CD booting, unfortunately, i was still being bugged by the wifi issue when comes to mirror connection stages.
So the last resort would be as what you have proposed in the 1st option, to connect to ethernet, will try it in the weekend.....let see what will turn out...
Anyway, it is really a good idea to startout this site, newbies like me can have lots of info. here. thanks alot...