Interim report.

Without USB back drive installed, I installed the Jessie DVD ISO from
key. Do simply installation routine.

When it came to partitioning, I accepted a single partition on entire
target disk. Oddly my backup USB drive still reported as a possible
target even though it is disconnected.

I do the installation from the key rather than Devuan repository.

I should note that on one prior installation I had installed mbr-pc
because I thought it was asking if I wanted to use the MBR. Could this
have messed up my disk?

When I reboot to the target disk, all I get is a blinking line cursor
upper left. Apparently kernel not seen. I try boot Devuan Jessie from my
old disk GRUB menu, but is says no such disk.

I suspect I need do a hard disk recovery. I suppose mkfs.ext4 on it
would be of no help.

Haines