help with linux installation

[TheCreator]

Hello list,
I've tried to install deb and slack, and I'm not having much luck.
Debian informs me that it can't mount my cd drive, and I can't get any farther.
Slack says that it can't open the harddrive, with cfdisk and fdisk both.
I also tried using the deb floppies, from which my computer will not boot.
Any ideas are really helpfull, I'm trying to get at least ssh up and 
running on deb before wednesday, because I've got to go stay with my 
mom for a while, and can't get to the computer itself unless I'm 
using an ssh connection.


Thanks,
~~TheCreator~~
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