dpkg reports problems with package files

I installed Debian 1.3 from the recent Tri-Linux CD. When dselect was going through the packagesin the Install step, the following error message was reported: dpkg-deb: unexpected end of file in version number in /var/lib/dpkg/methods/mnt/stable/binary/sound/timidity-patches_0.1-1.deb dpkg: err

Serial module hangs machine in 1.3 (Tri-Linux)

SHORT VERSION: I'm trying to install Debian 1.3 from the newest Tri-Linux CD, but my machine hangs whenever the serial module is loaded. I have two serial ports (COM1 and COM2 under DOS.) Only a reset has any effect. My system, including serial ports, works w/o problems with DOS, Win3.1, Win95,