Shows the list of components to the user during installer operation, and starts a selected component when it is selected. Main-menu's questions are set to priority MEDIUM, so if your priority is set to HIGH or CRITICAL (HIGH is the default), you will not see the menu. On the other hand, if there is an error which requires your intervention, the question priority may be downgraded temporarily to allow you to resolve the problem, and in that case the menu may appear.

Shows a list of languages and language variants. The installer will display messages in the chosen language, unless the translation for that language is not complete. When a translation is not complete, English messages are shown.

Detects hard disks, either installed or attached to the computer.

Allows the user to configure PCMCIA cards used in laptops for networking.

Shows a list of keyboards, from which the user chooses the model which matches his own.

Configures the computer's network connections so it can communicate over the internet.

Looks for ISO file systems, which may be on a CD-ROM or on the hard drive.

Presents a list of Debian archive mirrors. The user may choose the source of his installation packages. Commonly, a CD-ROM or network mirror are chosen.

Detects CD-ROM drives, either installed or attached to the computer.

Anna's Not Nearly APT. Installs packages which have been retrieved from the chosen mirror.

Automatically partitions an entire disk according to preset user preferences.

Allows the user to partition disks attached to the system. A partitioning program appropriate to your computer's architecture is chosen.

Displays a list of partitions, and creates file systems on the selected partitions according to user instructions.

Installs the most basic set of packages which would allow the computer to operate under Linux when rebooted.

Allows the user to choose an operating system kernel version, if there is more than one version available.

Installs a boot loader program on the hard disk, which is necessary for the computer to start up using Linux without using a floppy or CD-ROM. Many boot loaders allow the user to choose an alternate operating system each time the computer boots.

Provides dialogs for setting up the base system packages according to user preferences. This is normally done after rebooting the computer; it is the 'first run' of the new Debian system.

Allows the user to execute a shell from the menu, or in the second console.

Provides a way for the user to record information on a floppy disk when trouble is encountered, in order to accurately report installer software problems to Debian developers later.