Hi, I have Comapq Presario CQ50 107 AU model Note Book.I installed Windows xp pro successfully. Now I want to install suse linux in dual mode that means in dual boot. Can anybody tell me steps how to install suse linux in dual mode and how much space i need to be allocated for suse linux? Can anybody help me plz?


Regards,
Ravi Kumar Munagala.

Well, you did it in the right sequence -- XP (or any Windows, for that matter), when you're starting from scratch, has to be installed first because a Windows install overwrites the master boot record (MBR). If you did your XP installation in a disk partition that's, oh, 10G to 20G and left the rest of the drive unformatted then you're good to go installing your Linux distribution.

If memory serves, SUSE has a boot CD (or DVD)? Stick that disk into the drive, shut down XP with a "restart" and it should boot from the CD/DVD then start walking you through the installation. And, if memory serves, SUSE is pretty automated about recognizing that XP is there (it'll ask you about retaining the XP installation), formatting Linux partitions for you (you need at least two, one for swap space (generally twice the size of your installed RAM) and one for everything else; the installation will show you recommended sizes and give you a chance to accept the recommendation or make your own choices (best to just accept the recommendation).

How much disk space do you need for Linux?

Well, that depends; what are you going to do? If you're just doing a minimum system for learning about Linux, then you don't need much more than, oh, 10G. If you're going to be building large data bases, then you'll need more. How much space you need depends on what you're planning on doing with your system. If you've got a 100G or larger disk drive, you can just allocate 50G or more to Linux (and that's a lot of disk; chances are, you won't be using all of it for a long, long time).

Make your choice and then wait through a lot of disks spinning, messages flashing and all manner of stuff (it'll take a while). Somewhere along the line you're going to get asked about installing a boot loader (if memory server, SUSE uses a boot loader named GRUB) and whether you want to dual-boot XP and Linux (the installer may just do it for you without asking). When the installation is finished, you'll reboot the machine and a display will pop up where you can select which operating system you want to boot -- pick one and away you go.

Be sure to pay attention during the installation -- there will be questions asked of you. If you don't understand the question, there is almost always a help that explains what the question is about and what your alternatives are. Too, if you have a printed guide that would be useful or if you have another system available looking through the documentation on the web site (or on a CD) as you're doing the installation would be a good idea. Generally speaking, you can let the installation install using its default values and you'll usually be all right; also generally speaking it doesn't hurt to read the introductory documentation.

Hope this helps some.

DVD...

You can use the DVD for more control of the installation process and of what is installed, but a live-cd will give you an idea of openSUSE in function before you install.

This is a standard quick guide using Ubuntu as an example. Although it is not mentioned, remember to defragment XP before you shrink the XP partition.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_w...lled_first.htm

If you use a copy of a partitioning CD such as PartedMagic, you can shrink XP and make space for linux before starting to install, and the openSUSE installation program will make a reasonable suggestion for partitioning on the free space it finds. If you are confused at any time, just abort the installation at any time before the partitioner gives a warning and starts the process, and begin again.

If you are a bit brave, or could wait a little, you could install openSUSE 11.2, either as RC1, out now, or as the final release on the 12th of November.

I'd not be recommending the "brave" thing right now - 11.2 RC1 probably isn't the best experience for a newcomer to Suseworld - the KDE version will install in about 20 mins and is very snappy and smart looking...but there's a bit of polishing to be done - it is only the first release candidate after all

IG