[kwlug-disc] debian 5.0 (lenny) install goes faster by moving the mouse?

[Robert P. J. Day]

   i was installing debian 5.0 on one of my excess laptops this  
morning, and i was getting a bit frustrated that some package  
configurations seemed to be taking *forever* -- as in, a single  
package config taking more than a minute.

   to make sure the system hadn't locked up, i just moved the mouse  
and, suddenly, a flurry of package config and install.  as soon as the  
mouse stopped, back to crawling slowness.  repeat, same result.

   is there a reason for this?  the only thing i could think was that  
package configuration during the installation needed some system  
randomness and moving the mouse generated enough to keep things moving  
along.  other than that, i have no idea what that was all about.  and  
it was entirely reproducible.  thoughts?

rday