Today I have successfully installed Debian Etch RC1. Here is my process:
1. Download Debian Etch RC1 ISO image. I choose CD-ISO and burned to CD-R.
2. Boot computer using Debian Installer CD, and install base system only.
3. Preparation of compiling kernel: First download latest linuxkernel. I choose 2.6.20 stable from:
/usr/src/# wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
and uncompressed: tar jxvf linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
and make a link: /usr/src/# ln -s linux-2.6.20 linux
install pakages needed: kernel-package, ncurses-dev, fakeroot, initrd-tools, module-init-tools, procps, make-kpkg
4. Compile the kernel under /usr/src/linux/:
#make menu-config
#make-kpkg clean
#fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --revision=custom.1.0 kernel_image modules_image
5. Install new kernel under /usr/src/:
dpkg -i xxx.deb
if you do NOT using "--initrd" argument in kernel compile, then you must make initrd manually:
/boot # mkinitrd -o /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20 2.6.20
and modify /boot/grub/menu.lst according to exist items.
6. Reboot and continue to install desktop:
apt-get install x-window-system gnome
7. Install other needed package and customize gnome.
