Hi,
I tried to install opensuse 10.3 on notebook which has windows xp already installed. I want a dual boot configuration with XP and Linux.
I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 Notebook with Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T7200, 100 GB SATA 7200RPM Performance Hard Drive and Windows XP Media Center edition 2005. This is the original configuration that came with the purchased computer.

As per page 20 of opensuse 10.3 manual, I carried out
1. Deactivated virtual memory file (start -> control panel-> system ->advanced ->performance (settings-> advanced -> virtual memory-> file size C: drive memory set to 0, then reboot computer
2. Instead of scandisk (not supported by XP), used start-> accessories-> commandt prompt -> chkdsk /f /v
3. Start -> accessories-> system tools-> Disk Defragmenter
4. Put in opensuse dvd, all good until get to Installation settings, YAST suggested partitioning, which says -

in red:
* Delete windows partition /dev/sda2 (86.4 GB). Resize impossible due to inconsistent fs. try Checking fs under windows.
* Delete partition /dev/sda3 (1.9 GB)
* Delete partition /dev/sda4 (4.6 GB)
* Delete partition /dev/sda5 (1.9 GB)

in black:
* create extended partition /dev/sad2 (93.1 GB)
* create swap partition /dev/sda5 (2.0 GB)
* create root partition /dev/sda6 (20 GB) with ext3
* create partition /dev/sda7 (71.1 GB) for /home with ext3

If I accept this, it will remove Windows and my Windows files. According to opensuse 10.3 notes, the C: drive (/dev/sda2) should automatically be resized by YAST to have both a windows part and a linux part.

I received the following advice from Novell Support:

When you get to the partition stage do the following:

1. select expert mode and choose custom partition

2. Select the whole hard drive and then at the bottom of the windows select create to create a new partition. Depending on the number of partitions you want to create you will have to come back to this window and again select the whole hard drive to create another partition.

3 After this you can progress with the installation.



I tried this but it did nort work:
I was not able to create any more partitions: I selected expert mode, chose custom partition, selected the whole drive and tried to create a new partition. The following message came up: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It is not possible to create a partition on /dev/sda, A primary partition cannot be created. There are already four primary and extended partitions. An extended partition cannot be created. An extended partition already exists. A logical partition cannot be created. No space is left in the extended partition. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I tried creating a partition on /dev/sda2 (the C drive). This gave the same message.

I am waiting for novell support to get back to me again. Does anyone have a fix ?

Floren

boot up a livecd and post the output of fdisk -l