Can't get Suse10.2 to boot on either computer
 

I downloaded the recent suse10.2 iso file and burned it to dvd. I tried to boot from it on both laptop and desktop both running xp and I can't get it to work. Then I tried downloading the first cd iso and tried that and that is not working either. I thought I went into my bios and changed the order to boot the cd first. What is going on here?

Have you set the necessary prerequisites with in the bios's of your machines.
I.E. Set the CD dvd r wr drives as the default boot devices.

It would jhelp to have the specifications of each machinme.

Well, I deduced my problem is not my bios, I got an old versio of Suse to boot that I ordered. I think my problem is in burning the dvd/cd. The drive seems to try and read them but nothing happens. I know it has something to do with .iso images and windows?!?!

I am running a toshiba tecra m2 with windows xp and a presario desktop with xp as well, they are both fairly new.

Ok, so I got the CD to boot by downloading a special .iso program. I want to download the DVD from Suse but it cuts off at 2 gigabit even though the it is supposed to be around 4 gig.

Windows XP
1.5 gig ram
60 gig hard drive
1.8 ghz pentium mobile

Fellow Newbie,
may I ask at what speed you burned your DVD? Did you use Nero? Did you verify the contents of the burned ISO? All of these factors may have a bearing on your problem. Hope this helps.

What special iso program are you referring to? Are you using the Powertoy for Windows XP? I have attempted to use this in the past, and have had problems with it. In regards to cutting off your download, have you tried different mirrors when downloading? It is possible that high network traffic on the site you have chosen to download from may be causing errors in downloading.

I think you are already past the classic trap of copying the .iso file to the CD/DVD vs "burn from iso"

If you have any reasonable internet connection, then installing from DVDE no longer makes sense. You can do a basic install from CD and then do everything else with the package manager.

Anytime I did a DVD install, I wound up with a bunch of SW that I would never use.

You need to use a decent download program not IE, that way you can download ALL of the DVD which can be useful at times or the less convenient CDs. Even Konqueror will download file sizes > 2G
unlike Windoze and IE. Alternatively buy a linux magazine with the DVD or online DVD from the dreaded ebay.