Problem installing Debian

I'm trying to install Debian (Sarge release).  I want to do a network install, so I downloaded a small .iso that had just the basic system, and it's supposed to download the rest of what I want.

I have the basic system installed fine, but I'm having problems connecting it to the internet to install anything else.  It gets an IP from DHCP fine, but it won't download anything from the mirrors.  My pings reveal problems with my connection.  I get anywhere from 10% to 60% packet loss, and heard anything above 2% loss is very bad.

The way I have it set up is I have a DSL modem connected to my Windows computer (via USB), and then the Linux computer connected to the Windows computer.  (There is a 8-port switch inbetween the main Windows computer and the Linux computer).  I have the interfaces bridged in the Windows control panel.

When I connect another Windows computer behind my main Windows system it connects to the internet fine.  Also, there is no issue with the internet on my main Windows system.

I heard about messing with the MTU.  I've tried setting the MTU on the Linux system to 1492, 1480, 1472, 576 and other values with no luck.

Any ideas, anyone?

oh, and I can't do www.opera.com if i can't even get the shit installed lol

another thing: the same thing happens when I connect the DSL modem directly to the Linux system via it's Ethernet port.

you have the pppoe packages all installed and configured correctly?

>>1
Maybe DHCP is configured wrong. Try to enter whe stuff manually by typing in "expert" or "expert26" (for a 2.6 kernel) at the beginning.
You can change it with ifconfig, too, but if you don't know how, then it's easier just to use this method.

>>4
explain the pppoe to me.  it's not installed. 

i didn't think i had to use it as my dsl modem does the sign-in/nat/config via a built in web interface, so i thought it converted normal ethernet to pppoe.

>>5
i will try that

i was getting packet loss pinging my windows system that the linux system was behind as well.  it was less than anything through the internet but still had like 5% packet loss.

>>4
i meant in the above post explain when do you need to have it installed, is it when the dsl modem is connected directly or if anything on the network uses it.

>>6
err... packet lost to the next node?
Are you SURE that both NICs are ok and the cable is in a good condition?

>>8
don't think it's the cable, as when i unplug the linux system and replace it with a windows system the internet comes through just fine

it could be the nic in the linux system ... i replaced it and will reinstall...

this is what happens the first time you use Linux. Be patient and you will get it working

It will eventually pay off when you're making $1k a week and getting huge budgets from small companies to redo their networks with real fileservers (if you really learn to do it right)

Unix == $$$

i got it fixed!

i switched out my nic, and then debian didn't seem to recognize what kind of ethernet card it was.  which was bs as it was a 3com 35c09 card, and I selected it from it's menu and still, claiming there was no nic!

well, i moved the nic to another pci slot and everything worked.  downloading worked, everything.  didn't have to even touch ifconfig.  so i think it's a faulty pci slot.

all is working now.  i got into aptitude and all is well.  the real fun begins!  thank you for your help.