When & how did you install Debian? What CD ISO did you use download? What kernel are you running? To check it:
uname -a
or
dpkg-query -l | grep kernel-image
Debian 3.0 - 3.0r5 woody had the 2.2.x kernel by default but you were also able to use the 2.4.x kernel.
Debian 3.1r0 sarge has the 2.4.27 kernel by default but you were also able to use the 2.6.8 kernel.

If you have just upgraded from stable to testing & installing packages from testing/unstable repositories, then you are running from the developmental branch of Debian in what will eventually be Debian 3.2 codenamed etch.