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-   -   installing suse 8.1 (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/installing-suse-8-1-a-375287/)

dustonian 10-20-2005 10:45 PM

installing suse 8.1
 
I have a new lance armstrong hp laptop. A turion 64 processor. I cant seem to partition windows xp. (peice of ****) I would like to have a dual boot system. So that is the first ? second is concerning the 64 bit software . Is 8.1 going to be able to be up graded. I have the 5 cd for install but I am cautious to install I think I will erase the xp. I have a ntfs file structure. Does suse use this file structure?

usaf_sp 10-21-2005 12:49 AM

SuSE DOES NOT USE the NTFS file structure. It can read it, but it can not write it. There is no reliable way that any distro can write to NTFS and I don't see that this file system will be used by Linux any time soon if ever. NTFS is very nasty for several reasons:

1. Although it does not frag like FAT/FAT32 on WIndows systems, NTFS does fragment. Linux file systems defrag "on the fly".

2. NTFS allows for multiple data streams, this means that the file system can attach a piece of hidden code to any file. Imagine what a virus could do it done this way? It can even cross the security barriers built in by Windows.

3. If Linux were to write to NTFS volumes it would be even slower than it is writing to FAT file systems. This would be a serious performance drop.

As far as installing SuSE 8 +, why would you wnat to do this when you can download SuSE 10 for free? Is there a reason you are stuck with SuSE 8? You would be giving up a lot of OS and application enhancements. Besides SuSE 10 and and Mandriva 10 would be better with 64 bit processors.

http://www.novell.com/products/suselinux/

Suse 10 has a partition resizer to make the partitions on the windows drive larger or smaller. You can find the instructions in the documentation on the install DVD.

Anyway, I hope I answered some of your questions.

Metalbarthug 10-21-2005 07:19 AM

dustonian,

To help answer you query, you can use Win XP to partition your HDD, but not to reformat. As XP uses NTFS, there's noi reason why they would include a tool to reformat to FAT32.

a long way round would be to use the XP CD if you have one, run it and mess with Fdisk (provided you know the commands to resize, reformat etc.)

However, something like Acronis Disk Director 9 is absolutley ideal for doing this. As you don;t appear to have installed Linux yet, why not google for a cheap second hand copy of DD9. I use this, after beating my brains out with PartitionMagic which would continually goose my system (HP Pavilion t760 UK edition) and it is invaluable kit for dual booting, partitioning on the fly etc.

Use DD to resize your XP box, but leave the space you want for Linux UNFORMATTED and trust your Linux distro to do this for you. I've not used DD to format in Ext2, Reiser etc because of the awful experience I had with PartitionMagic. Leave it to your native Distro to do this.


To get more up to date Distros, try http://www.uselinux.co.uk to order cheap DVDs and CDs of freely available Linux Distros, including Peanut, Suse 10 OSS, Mandriva, etc. Saves hours of FTP or HTTP downloading (esp if you don't have a cable or T1 connection).


I agree with usaf_sp, you have a pretty new high powered laptop there, and 8.1 is a few years old, so you might find it'll not make best use of your kit.

TigerLinux 10-21-2005 10:46 AM

why suse 8.1,
use 10.0 the latest one.

dustonian 12-06-2005 04:42 PM

installing linux on xp 64 bit box
 
I still have not installed linux. Trying to do the research. XP WILL not give me the option to partition my harddrive. (unless I am looking in the wrong place. computer managment, storage,disk managment)

I was going to install susi8.1 and then hope I can upgrade to 10. Will this be possible?. I only have a dialup connection. But I have the 5 disc 8.1

Metalbarthug 12-07-2005 02:24 PM

dustonian,

sounds like you want to install 10.0 - so my suggestion is to go to uselinux.net (or .co.uk) and order the 5CD set of 10.0, only costs about £5 ($7). This will give a full up to date distro.

Re partitioning, Google for it or go to the Win XP knowledge base. However, te easiest thing would be to buy or borrow Acronis Disk Director (you can get cheaper copies send hand from Amazon)

dustonian 06-13-2006 12:25 AM

My lance armstrong laptop and suse 10
 
Hello everybody I still have not installed Linux. I have not stayed put long enough to download the suse 10. (I work on ships and travel alot) Anyway I wanted to say thanks for all the input I get from this site. You guys teach me alot. Thanks
I gotta get my s*** together cuz I hate looking at that stupid windows Icon. Any way see ya.

Dustin


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