Hello:
I am trying to install SUSE-10.1 on my laptop where Windows Xp is already installed. I heard that at initial installation SUSE will by default create two partitions: swap and /root. However, I would like to create more partitions than the default ones.
In particular, I want four partitions: swap, /root, /boot, /home. And on my laptop(with only one hard disk), two primary partitions
are occupied by windows already. So, what could be a appropriate partition scheme for me? do i have to use LVM to create LV groups? or putting /boot in a primary partition, then /root, /home, swap together in an extended partition? or...
Can someone give some suggestions?
Thanks a lot.

Tony

when u boot from cd/dvd to install suse,select kde/gnome,bla bla.then it comes to a point there it displays what is going to happen next(what programs will be installed,etc).there u ll see the HARWARE or PARTITION(sorry i cant remember now) and under this topic u ll see the 2 actions what are going to be done with ur hdd.select ADVANVE or EXPERT there on the top,then select CUSTOM,then a screen will appear showing the partition on ur hdd.select free space and then ADD,select ext3 for linux with mount / or what u like and also add swap.then highlite the windows partitions and then EDIT.then pres Fst options(or something like that) and make sure the 4 options ofter the topic VOLUME NAME are disabled.ok.then make sure u mount them as /c,/d,etc.ok,ok,ok.then u ll com to initial display.now u ll see the options to be done to ur hdd.and just keep going with the instalation.
sorry,but i cant remember the names,but they must be something like that.if u still have problems, i ll simulate an instalation on mine laptop and i ll give u the exact steps,but i m sure u ll be ok.

One of the partitions needs be the root (/) partition, which will contain other directories such as /usr/,/var/,/etc and others. You could make the 3rd partition the swap or the boot partition and then the others extended and you should be just fine. The (/root) directory is the home directory of the root user. It is good practice to log in as a normal user and su to root only when you need to. I doubt if there will be enough in /root to justify using having a dedicated partition. It is very common to mount /home on a dedicated partition. This will allow you to install a different distro, but preserve the contents of your /home partition.

I didn't see anybody tell you, (or maybe I just missed it) but: Be sure to DEFRAG Windows BEFORE installing Linux or you'll hose Windows.

You may want to install a small FAT 32 partition for transferring stuff back and forth between Windows and Linux.

That is - before resizing windows partitions to create space for linux defragment the partitions else you may end up formatting everything

sn68:
Your right, I didn't say that the way I should have.