Boot install problems with SuSE.
 

Though Im fully aware that posting such a question may get me flamed to all hell, I would really like somewhat of a straight answer in order to get things off the ground with my first time use with a Linux system.

Currently, on the computer next to me, I am running Windows XP on a Compaq Pressario X86. 2.4ghz Celeron, 512+ ram, blah blah blah... Problem is, I want to install SuSE or Gentoo (I already have the 5 CD image(s) SuSE so that would be much better for me) as well as keep my -cringes- XP OS and all the files included in it (my little brother uses it for gaming, and I want to back up some stuff before I wipe it clean) but it wont boot from the CD-ROM, nor can I install from Windows (though I dont think your supposed to be able to, correct?)

So basically put, I guess I dont know why I cant boot-install (and yes I did change it to boot from CD in the BIOS) and partition the HD so I can keep XP and start using SuSE at the same time.

Any help to get me going here would be greatly appreciated.

-Box :newbie:

Burn the CD's as images.
Backup your XP files.
Change the CD-drive to boot first in your BIOS.
Wait till Suse screen pops up and foolow the instructions.

Wait, what about partitioning? Would it be that much of a risk so where I'd need to back up?

I mean hell, I want it to dual boot...

Follow the SuSE install process. It will help you to partition. When partitioning and softwares choosing screen pops up. Edit Partitions setting EXT3 format for Linux and setting mount point for Windows partition

How would I go about installing and partitioning from the SuSE 9.2 LiveCD? I dont want to lose anything from my XP part of the harddrive...

Man this is complicated... But hell I got the LiveCD to work on my own (you don't want to know how stupid I was and how I ended up finally getting it to work... total noob move on my part) so maybe with a little guidance from you great ones Im hoping to be able to do this soon.

I dont' think they were saying to boot from a live cd, but regardless I thought you said that you are completely unable to boot from your cdrom?

Like I said in above post. Total noob move on my part and I got it to work now.

So I cant install from the LiveCD?

LIVECD is Linux Demo. Install from Downloaded and burned at LOWER SPEED images.
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