Q1. Windows OSs (codename=crappy) are constrained by a 1024 cylinder boot limit. Is Suse 10.x still constrained?? What about OSX 10.4.x?
Q2. Is it better to always use fat32 for crappy or is NTFS OK w/ Suse 10.x? Does any Linux distro recognize, allow R/W of NTFS files?
Q3. What is minimum space / Partition size required for a Suse 10.x installation?
Q4. Recmnd swap partition (as a logical partition)? P M 725 CPU max op @ 2.13 GHz, with 2 GB of DC DDR2 533 SODIMM RAM.
Q5. Boot loader; grub or LILO? Filesystem; Only ReiserFS 3.6 (or auto), or also use Ext2/3?
Q6. wine is supposed to allow reading of HFS (OSX) files, but would it allow me to boot & install from the MAC install DVDs?

Use: Digital Video editing comparison btwn the different OSs (Final Cut, Linux GIMP?, Adobe Premiere Pro [7, aka 1.5].
Once I get it figured out for my LT, I anticipate trying on my DT; Tyan S2865 w/ AMD FX60x2 running some RAID setups.

HD options: Main; 7200rpmSATA Seagate 80 or 100 GB, 2nd HD; PATA 100 GB, 3rd; USB/FW enclosure (??), maybe 5GB PCMCIA HD.

Trying to decide on partition size & loading order for a multiple boot system w/; a OS X, b LINUX, c crappy (2 versions)
New really crappy ULTIMATE b2 [recmd ~15GB] loads OK from Old crappy PRO {6 GB}. Common crappy programs that run OK in either Pro or ULT, will be installed in PROGRAMS as the LAST logical disk (Ext Part).
If not ULT compatible, then program will be loaded into the respective OS partition.

Considerations:
1. Suse 9.1 installed (3x boot), but can not access Internet as my Intel 2915 WiFi, or USR5410 (PCMCIA) is not recognized.
I am not sure how to make WiFi work (will try using ipw 2200 linux v110). If WiFI worked, should I upgrade via WiFi to 10.x?

2. Without editing the boot loaders, Crappy loader allows selecting of Earlier Version (Pro) or Crappy [REALLY!], and
MAC OS X boot loader will allow MAC, Linux, or Crappy to boot.

3. I already have; RHEL3 (CDs), Suse 9.1, both crappy versions & the MAC OSX 10.4.x (+ RAR file) install DVDs.

4. ISO images; FedoraCore5, Suse 10.1GMi386mini {aka Internet install?}, bitTorrent4 DL 3.5GB Suse10.1 OK, uTorrent 1.6 NOT.

5. Partitions at the tail end of a HD are not accessed as fast as those near middle of HD, tailend ~1/2 beginning Mbps.

6. A HD in a USB or FW enclosure transfers data much slower than HD's ATA rated capability. (BM in HDtune252, HDTach301)
I think my Z71V will boot from a USB/FW enclosed HD if I could modify the bootloader specifications (R3).
Do not know if it would boot from a PCMCIA HD.

Limitations: My Crappy install CD will not load when a Linux 2.6.x kernel is already present.

Boot, Root (being mildly dislexik, Adult ADD or autistic tendencies as described by Temple Grandin) I get this confused!
I think I would like to have Root as a logical partition! Should I specify boot separately on install??

Research-LinuxQ tutorials Read;
R1. Guide to Partitioning based on Filesystem Hierarchy Standard: http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-...#THEFILESYSTEM
R2. etc/fstab broken down explained
R3. Boot from USB Storage Device
R4. Installing SuSE 9.0 to dual boot an IBM ThinkPad T41 with XP (OK, but did not provide Suse partition specifications!)
R5. ReiserFS Data Recovery Tips (Not sure what I really learned)
R6. Triple boot with windows-xp,FC5,suse 10.1 (Of limited help, do not really understand grub.conf. fdisk I am OK)
R7. Easiest Linux Guide Ever (Great, MUST READ for new users, but not enough for setting partitions w/ fdisk in my case)
R8. Booting Linux with the NT Bootloader (j79zlr.com) (Not really understood. btw, I lack floppy drive capability.)

Thoughts on how to proceed; To avoid conflicts others encountered!
A. Load crappy, format a 8GB space (big enough for later instl Linux boot & MAC OSX), format 2nd primary part 6GB install Pro & SP2 to it.
B. Then create an Extended Partition that starts about ~1020 cylinders, which allows really crappy [aka ULTIMATE] to boot OK still when installed to the 1st logical disk/partition.
C. Create a logical disk/partition of 18 GB for ULTIMATE. Create a fat32 partition for later use, reformatted during install of Suse LINUX (10GB), Create LAST LD/P as PROGRAMS (5 GB).
D. Delete 1st P Part after installing really crappy {Ultimate].
E. Load Suse 10.x as New Installation & set partitioning: Using partitioning tool option delete FAT32, then redefine & format root or boot hda3, Swap 2GB hda7. Not writing any boot loader to the MBR!
F. Install OSX; it's loader now sees both Windows versions & Linux!

Serious Repliers, When answering, please quote # or just the portion you are replying to/answering, not the whole post! TY

A1: no, but to my knowledge Windows neither (?)
A2: NTFS is read-only, FAT32 is crappy. Suggestion: Windows system on NTFS and a data partition in FAT32
A3: I gave SUSE 10.1 5GB on my dual-boot laptop, now I am running out of space. Have a lot of software installed, though. Suggestion if space is not limited: 8-10GB
A4: With 2GB RAM I'd assume that swap will hardly ever be needed, except for suspend to disc, where swap needs to be as large as RAM (or larger).
A5: grub (easier to configure, never had any trouble). ReiserFS (personal preference)
A6: no idea, but booting through wine doesn't sound plausible to me. BTW: Linux knows HFS, too.

your thoughts
A: let the Linux installer format and partition its own space
B: not needed, see A1 (maybe for Windows?)
C: what's a Linux FAT32 partition?
D: getting confused, quit

Hey digital8doug,

Whoa! Slow down! If this is your first time with SUSE I'd suggest going with the defaults as they will work fine for any desktop use. When you have SUSE installed click on the life preserver and check out the documentation. Both the SUSE start-up and reference docs are excellent.

Dennisk

Abi-When I let the Suse 9.1 installer format & partition on its own defaults, it always puts Swap as 1st Primary partition (=1GB, 0-130 cylinders), & then it took up all the other space on the drive. Can't install any Win when Suse on the HD, see Limitations.
9.1 installation discusses the requirements of 1024 cylinder boot limitations. My set up of partitions hopes to avoid any conflicts.

Q8. Benefits in DVE if I use Swap=3GB, or is that excessive? Swap= 1.5xRAM is common recommendation I read.
IMHO; Swap appears to be what MS calls `Page file'.
As Swap default is 1st Pri part, thought as the earliest possible Logical drive better (but>>1024 cyl), not as last hda#, then root.
NOTE: Edited original, hopefully cleared up the confusing entries.

den-Not 1st time w/Suse, ~8 install methods w/ 9.1 in 3x boot before I found out install order required (+ reading problems others had & PM exchngd=reasoning behind/Basis thoughts) +tried RHEL3, Mandrake before** Always got Grub GNU 0.94 screen, couldn't access any OS or proceed, so I did a reinstall! ** I will look for life preserver on 9.1 dt.

This will be my 1st time w/ 10.1, not sure how much different the install defaults would appear in fdisk. 10.1 seems to have much better HW support than 9.1 Pro did, but still lacks sound. New realtek drivers should correct this. +nVidia for LCD resolution. Do not want to spend another 2 or 3 weeks experimenting to see what partitions / formatting is required to allow each OS boot.

Am hoping a multiple booting w/XP & Suse 10.1 user could recommend some minimal settings for a Full install w/KDE (other readings in this forum have indicated to use just KDE, avoid/not install Gnome!).

Partition sizing & spacing is critical when multiple booting, any adjustments to partition #s & sizes afterwards can be mortal. For the crappy OS thought of mounting an unlabeled logical partition / drive as a folder in the main Windows folder to allow room for updates, etc.

Q9. Any benefits from trying to use Fedora Core 5 vs Suse (or +)?
They could share /home but not much else as kernels are different?

Q10. Can Suse 10.1 boot OK if installed on a 5GB PCMCIA HD? Could it also have logical drives for file storage on main HDD?
Ubuntu can but there are HEAT considerations, thus drive errors.

Didn't mean you should stick to the recommendations, but use the partitioner that comes with the Linux installer, not Windows or 3rd party software like PM.
To my knowledge, these limitation are caused by old sytem BIOS's rather than Linux. Never had any problems with the installation of SUSE's >9 beyond the 1024th cylinder.

I still think your installation strategy is way to complicated, but I have no experience with triple-boot systems (MAC OSX!). Not knowing about the requirements of the MAC installer, I would install Windows first on the first primary partition (least trouble with the bootloader) and then proceed with the other OS's.

Abi, 1st, that is what I meant by Thoughts E, after a new Suse Install shows a plan for partitioning, I would then change/resize partitions. I avoid 3rd party, SymNor PM 805 will not work once ULTIMATE on the HD!

I loaded Suse 10.1 onto my existing xp/VISTA HD, see that option is for either KDE or Gnome, (not both loaded as in 9.1). I added some Software fm Std w/ KDE [2.1GB]; VoIP, Multimedia, Games, +, Office (Has wine!). Final load=3.5GB, Root was 4.9 GB, /home 6.6 so I resized root 5.9, /home 5.6. Stayed w/ default Swap 2.0 GB for the time being. Change to 3GB after #x boot details worked out?

Suse 10.1 has much better HW support for this LT, System showed my Intel 2915 wifi, Gb Ethernet Contrlr, GPU card, modem, etc. Install appeared to proceed OK, I think I entered a ROOT PW.

_ * _ * _* _ *
When computer restarted only thing on screen was. I repeatedly reboot, no change.
GRUB Loading stage 1.5,
Grub loading It never proceeded any further! So I changed out HD to operating XP.

Other screen display I see a lot of is, and have NO idea how to proceed (I can view Help, but ??)
GNU GRUB version 0.94 639K/2095872K Upper Memory. (Was on the 9.1 load) * _ * _ *


2nd aka boot limit. Not if it extends beyond 1024 cylinders (~8,028.16MB) BUT if the OS does not have any access to the 1st ~8GB on the HD to install stuff. If another OS has it all claimed.

MAC OSX MUST be 1st P Part I was told, so I now always install xp to 2nd PPart (starts before 1024 cylinders reached), attempting to have Suse start in extended partition section, way beyond 1024 cylinders. That is why the loading sequence is so complicated.
TY for all the help, your comments clarify my research & Qs that I must ask properly!! d8d

On another HD, I completed a 10.1 new install with XP & VISTA Ultimate beta 2 (5384) already & still working. Have been Internet most of day in Konq, & some FFox.
Was able to view some 10.1 info, think I may try reboot from CD on 1st drive & attempt to rebuild or reinstall a good BL.

Comments Mandriva 2006 or 10 and/vs 10.1, thought of loading Md to space that I have avail on existing HD.
Q11. No experience w/2 Linux OS on same HD, wondering can I share swap, /home or any thing else btwn distr??

Q12. Saw a new kernel 2.6.16.28 is avail, will it work OK Suse 10.x or is it for diff distro??

Sharing swap is no problem, with /home it's a little more complicated to separate OS specific settings.

FWIW, I installed 10.1 last night on my 2nd disk.

I have WinXP installed on my 1st 80Gb SATA disk and after hearing about performance benefits, I put a 1Gb NTFS partition at the start of my 2nd disk, for XP's swap. Then, for Linux installations I use a further 1Gb partition for swap, followed by a 20Gb ext3 OS partition and a 5Gb /home partition (also ext3). The rest of the disk is partition as FAT32, for shared data.

Hope that helps