Hi, I thought I would give this Linux a try as an alternative to XP. Whilst I am able to do most things (hardware and software) with XP or Dos, I have found SUSE Linux 10 daunting.
I have managed to install OK, and found the Nvidia drivers on their site, I dont know how to get them onto the PC with Linux. I don't have the web connected to the PC with Linux on it, just on a laptop with XP. After downloading the graphics drivers onto a CD and inserting that into the Linux machine, I am lost as I have been through various options with YOU, logged in as root, but cannot make the PV do anything with the drivers.
I would love to convert all my PCs to Linux but have much to learn yet.
Could someone give me step by step, an idiots guide to getting the drivers installed? Or would that be a very complicated proceedure?
Would I be best sticking with XP?

Hi and welcome to LQ.org. The guide is right there on nvidia's site for SuSE users:

SuSE NVIDIA Installer HOWTO

to install that way, you need to connect to the Internet from your Linux box. If you can't access the Internet, then you need to install it the old fashion way. I wrote this a while ago:

http://www.geocities.com/kooltux/tutorials/nvidia.html

it's dated and the english sucks, but should help you to get by. Search the forum as well for similar threads. Nvidia and SuSE are very popular and you will find everything: from better tutorials then mine to TV-out and dual monitors support.

Depends. I don't see Linux as a replacement for Windows. I see Operating Systems as tools to make our lives easier. You can't substitute a hammer for a screwdriver. Use the right tool for the right job.

You first have to think why you don't want to use Windows XP. I've heard everything, from bugs to ideological opinions for not using one or another. I use Linux because I love the customization I can do from the kernel level up to my Desktop and the amount of free, good quality software and compilers I get with it. Linux is the Paradise for programmers and computer lovers, seriously. No worries about virus or spyware either. I still use WindowsXP for games... thus it's my "Wintendo XP" .

Regards!

Thanks for that. I think that I have downloaded Linux to play with at first and it is something new to do. I will keep XP for now but would love to have something that one day I could do more with. The learning curve will be very steep at first!
I would plug the external ADSL modem into the Linux box but thought I would try and sort the Nvidia drivers out first (thought it would be the easier option). The modem may gernerate many more questions!

OK I give up! I tried setting up the ADSL modem that plugs into the USB, that doesn't work either. I think that SUSE Linux needs to make things much easier if they intend to get people to use thier OS rather than XP. At least XP recognises the gaphics card and the modem.
I may try again in a few years as I don't see the point in an OS that you can play about with when it is so dificult to install the basic bits.

You are right than linux is much steeper of a learning curve than windows. But honestly, the majority of this stems from exes, because in Windows you can get every driver you need and every piece of software you want in a self installing exe which is much more widely available than the precompiled rpms for us linux people. I have not yet gotten into compiling my own from binaries, and hope I never have to, that is more than I really want to do to simply use a computer and my hardware.
On to helping you out, though.I have found it is best to set up you ISPs DNS server IP addresses explicitly, not letting linux(or in the case of many DSL ISPs Windows too) try to resolve. It always tries the modem and routers first, making everything take longer, and in many cases, not resolving any at all as the passthroughs fail. Also, only use the Ethernet, do not use the USB. USB is not intended to carry internet, it is a device protocol, and as such brings many of its own issues. I highly recommend using only the Ethernet from your modem.
And nVidia cards and linux have long been an issue of more difficulty than ATI cards, every linux flavor I tried(about 20 in all) found my ATI card on the first shot, with no issues. I know in almost all cases I have heard nVidias are much more particular. I don't have any personal knowledge on this or why it may be so, but I agree it should be much easier than it is. In fact, I know I am not getting the latest in Drivers right now, and after getting everything settled, video drivers will be something I am looking into getting the latest of, I have no idea how easy or daunting this might be.
However, those 2 things, the graphics and the internet, are easy to set up, especially given the massively difficulties you will run into with more complicated things like video playback, and compiling binaries into rpms. But they can be tricky as it isn't the same as doing it in windows, and as such they SEEM difficult. Try using the ethernet instead of USB, then set your DNS servers explicitly, that should make your internet work easily, then you can move onto the video card, which will be easy as soon as you have internet.

adsl usb boxes are difficult to get going with linux much better to spend some euros and get a proper adsl modem!

I downloaded my nVidia driver off of YaST Online Update. At the time, it wasn't in every server. Took a bit of exploring.

Hey thanks everyone. I bought a DSL modem/router, set it up on the XP laptop and then plugged it into the Linux PC. Hey Presto, it works fine and I have used the online update to load the Nvidia drivers. I now believe that I can do something with Linux and am really enjoying myself.
Thanks to all.