Linux noob. Help me please

Logla · Apr 14, 2005, 03:02 PM

Ok guys I need a lot of help here.

I just got a copy of suse 9.2 and would like to install it onto my main rig in a dual boot configuration with XP.

I have done a little research tonight but I'm no further forward.
This is the first time I have had anything to do with linux but I'm keen to learn.
Any tutorials or how-to's would be appreciated.

RIV@NVX · Apr 14, 2005, 03:52 PM

First, make some unpartitioned space on your HDD using a partition manager (that doesn't necessarily mean Partition Manager

). This is the space where you will install your Linux distro.
Second, boot from CD or DVD (depending on what you have). It will detect your hardware and start the instlalation. I have never installed SuSE, but I guess it's not a lot more complicated than Fedora. From there onward you should be able to understand most of things that happen and you will be offered to make a dual boot in the end.

Of course, feel free to ask more

Logla · Apr 14, 2005, 04:47 PM

I have a spare 120Gb PATA drive in my system. I take it that its ok to just install on that?

Necrosis · Apr 14, 2005, 07:02 PM

Yes, seperate drives is recommended over partitioning.

sircave · Apr 15, 2005, 01:06 AM

Also, when you install your Suse, I think the boot loader is lilo. Well, whether lilo or grub, allow the boot loader to be installed to your MBR and name you Windows XP installation what ever you like, e.g., WINXP, XPSP1, XP SP2, Winrock, whatever you like. Then make the OS that you want to always boot first your default. Give yourself a timeout of 6 seconds or so, so that you have time to change your mind and boot the other OS if you so choose to do so. Enjoy your dual boot.

And keep on posting when you need help.

Logla · Apr 15, 2005, 04:48 PM

Well, I got it installed but not without issues. Not really as straight forward as I expected. This linux lark looks a touch complicated to the noobs.

I shall perservere though as I like the look of what it has to offer.

RIV@NVX · Apr 16, 2005, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logla

Well, I got it installed but not without issues.

What issues did you encounter?

Quote:

Not really as straight forward as I expected. This linux lark looks a touch complicated to the noobs.

Don't worry, you won't be total noob for long. In Linux you learn things quickly.

Quote:

I shall perservere though as I like the look of what it has to offer.

Are you referring to desktop environment (KDE, I suppose) or something else?

Logla · Apr 16, 2005, 11:41 AM

KDE was the desktop env I was using.

Problems were that I couldn't get my network card working/configured - I could see and configure the card with the correct address but couldn't actually get a connection to my router.

I also couldn't get my dvd-rw to work. There was a drive on the system but I was getting error messages about the fact that only root can mount drives. When I logged on as root I got another message (I dont remember now though) about being unable to mount.

After I've tried to re-install a couple of times it appears the dvd isn't working properly and I'm getting file errors while trying to install.

I'm off to look for another distro for now and then try again.

DarkFoss · Apr 17, 2005, 10:02 AM

Did you check the md5sum of both the download and the burned disk for errors?

In January I did an ftp install from the mini-disk that actually went pretty well, it took just under 2 hours to complete.