Can I practice flashing with virtualbox(-ose)?

[s3a]

I'm getting a computer that needs the operating system to be flashed because it doesn't even have a BIOS and if I make a mistake, the computer is finished and I REALLY want to replace Windows CE with Debian so, is it possible for me to practice flashing with virtualbox before I do the real thing?

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

[Sasquatch]

If you want to practise flashing a device, VB is not the kind of thing you can use. VB doesn't emulate particular devices or something, it only provides a generic virtual environment.

The rule of thumb for flashing a different OS to a device than it's shipped with is easy: do you need the device to work afterwards; can you afford to loose the device? Answer these questions and you know if you can take the risk.

[s3a]

I do need the device to work. If I ruin it I'd have wasted about $100. Maybe you didn't understand me. It's not the risk of the flashing process itself that I'm trying to emulate but rather the steps that I have to take in doing so. I've only ever flashed a PSP a long time ago but that was straightforward, all I had to do was put a file somewhere in the PSP and then start it via the PSP and the file did all the work.

I want to flash Debian 6.0/Squeeze/Stable on the device but I can't find any easy to follow instructions or any instructions at all technically. Also, I don't want some Debian "handheld edition" if there is such a thing. I want the real Debian Stable with only a command line interface so that I can add the GUI and programs once the OS is flashed.

By the way, you only said virtualbox is not for practicing to flash something but do you know of something that is?

If you know, please tell me because I am pretty desperate. The device in question is a very small netbook and would be very useful as a device to use for my studies on my way to and from school. (Windows CE does not provide me with the efficiency and features that I need).

[Sasquatch]

Like I said, VB doesn't emulate a device you can flash, because as you stated, yours doesn't have a BIOS. VB does.
I do not know of a program that can do what you want. All I can say is Google for tutorials. Searching with "<device> install linux" or something is a good start.