[DoomUK]

Firstly, I know absolutely nothing about Linux, installing Linux, running Linux (or indeed anything about any other OS other than recent versions of Windows for that matter lol).

I've just succesfully installed Norton Partition Magic (I've also got Boot Magic waiting). On my 180GB drive (see below). I've got a 150GB NTFS partition, and a 20GB FAT32 partition.

Now, I'm currently downloading SuSE from here: http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=2. Can I just install SuSE on the 20GB partition, and use Boot magic to just select the OS I want to use at startup? Is FAT32 the best format for Linux? Basically, can someone gently guide through my imminent installation of a second OS...


Thanks

[macdude425]

You can't just install Linux on a FAT32 partition. You have to use some Linux file system, like ext3 or ReiserFS.

I don't know much about PartitonMagic and BootMagic (because I've never used them), so I don't know if BootMagic can recognize Linux partitions.

[horndude]

actually you can use fat32 but it sucks at filesystems go and Suse wont offer it as a choice, use ext3 or reiserJFS as suggested by macdude

Suse will also like most linux distros offer to set up a bootloader called GRUB which will allow a choice of OS's at boot, keep in mind GRUB will likely have to be configured post install to add windows to its list

http://www.tldp.org
http://www.lowfatlinux.org

Id point you to suse's website but quite frankly, like redhat , it sucks, and sucks bad

[DoomUK]

So, when I've finished dl'ing Suse, I use Partition magic to create a Linux-specific partition, right? Will it be easy enough to actually install Suse/what's the best way of doing this?

Can I still use BootmagicI? Or should use Bootloader that you speak of?

I'm full of questions here lol.. I need help!

Oh, and why does Suse suck so bad?

[horndude]

Suse is ok, their website sucks bad, go there and check it out, do you see any links on its front page to answer your questions????A good distro will have these answers for you in plain sight, like a getting started section or something

if the partition is empty and unformatted suse will use it on its own, you wont need anything else, if it is formatted, remove any partitioning on it before the install, it needs to be blank or have a linux partition on it already, and blank is usually better

Id use grub before id trust bootmagic or anything else

[macdude425]

I suggest GRUB over BootMagic because it's reliable and it works.

The best way to install SuSE is to boot off the first install CD and follow the steps of the installer.

[Alex4R]

You might also check out Ubuntu. It was the first distro I used, and it is very user freindly. You can get CD's shipped for free, and I would suggest the Hoary Hedgehog version.

During the Ubuntu installation, it recognized Windows and asked if I wanted to install GRUB over the MBR, and I selected yes and when it rebooted windows was there and working.

Whatever you do, I would go to a local library and get a few books about linux and the basic commands. I got "Linux in a Nutshell" and it has helped me along quite a bit.

Good luck!

[DoomUK]

Thanks guys for your help

EDIT: Just one more little question though: what about a 'all-in-one' package like http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...945302-8554236? Recommended or not?

[horndude]

suse 9.1 personal is no longer supported by suse, it will still work, and support isnt all that important really, but you should be aware of this

suse recently merged with novell, and they are now commercial like redhat, meaning payware, just thought you should know

the best way ive found is to go to a book store and get one of the huge linux books that comes with a free linux distro in it and do it that way, that way you get the software for free and have users guide to go with it

linux for dummies book isnt bad, sounds terrible but its not too bad for rookies really

[DoomUK]

Actually I've already got a few 'For Dummies' books in my collection, and I've got Linux For Dummies coming in the post

Thanks again