7.1.0 server installation issues

[DB Clinton]

I installed Edubuntu Server on a box (1.7ghz, 4gigHD, 256RAM) that's not 
connected to the internet to see whether a clean install would at least 
give me the basics of thin client networking. I had little success in 
that area (besides the fact that the Edubuntu box can access files on a 
Win98 box via Samba).
But that's not my problem right now: for some reason none of the 
educational packages were installed on the system (it's not that there 
wasn't enough space: there are still 1.3gig left on the hard drive) and 
Synaptic doesn't have any reference to them (even with the CD in the 
drive). Also, none of the media players will work because they lack 
codecs. Do all of these packages require Internet access? If so, does 
that mean that 'buntus are pretty much useless without the Internet?

Next question:
I uninstalled my Wubi version of Edubuntu from my own computer and 
prepared to replace it with real disk partition to create a dual-boot (I 
first did a disk defrag from Windows and checked the integrity of the 
Edubuntu CD). The partition went well, but the install itself froze late 
in the process while installing BRI TTY (or something like it). 
Naturally, when I rebooted, the system went nowhere. I tried again from 
scratch (hoping the install process would somehow pick up on the 
previous failed attempt - to no avail) and this time, too, it froze, 
leaving a message "Build LTSP chroot failed".
But for the grace of SYSRESCUECD I would now be left with nothing - but 
I'm at least back in my old WinXP.
Running the Edubuntu CD's rescue mode was entirely unhelpful.
Is there any way to rescue what's been lost and/or is there any way to 
avoid such crashes on future installs?
With thanks again,
David Clinton