Hello
I cannot load both Windows XP and SuSE 7.3 onto my laptop. My HP rescue disk / XP disk reformats everytime I load it.

I have opted for Win98SE. This loaded up, no problem. But - my SuSE boot up CD isn't recognised by the notebook. I can load manually, but I can't seem to use any other CD than number 1. I can't load on Star Office etc and no packages are listed in YaST2 setup.
In summary -
I can dual boot using LILO.
W98 is all there (unfortunately)
SuSE partially loads - but I can't do a "with Office" package install.
Help!!

Very odd... A few things:

If the laptop isn't booting from CDROM correctly, you could:

A) check the BIOS to make sure that it will boot from the CDrom before the HD.

B) If you have a floppy drive, make a couple of SuSe boot floppies (The images and instructions should be on CD 1 somewhere) and try that flavor of install, which has worked for me with every other distro. I've only installed SuSe on a Sparc.

C) Boot floppies again, but this time with a net install, but this is a headache unless you have broadband and a lot of time.

Or:

Just download StarOffice after the fact off of the sun.com website (its big, 100+ Mb), and then any SuSe specific utilities you need you can install via RPM one at a time off of either the CDs or download them.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Finegan

What happens is that the SuSE boot CD is picked up on boot up but it isn't recognised and then I am offered a manual install - which goes to the CD and boots from there. Not like my SuSE desktop at all. For standard install + office, CD 3 is requested - but it is rejected by the laptop (but CD 3 is fine!). I don't particularly need Star Office (it's on my desktop) because I'm happy with kate but sometimes I need Abiword. I know I could load this directly from the CD / ftp - but curiosity is killing my cat - why is this happening to me? I guess I'm taking it personally but....
heeeeeelp!