Partitioning Options:

Shrink windows partition /dev/hda2 to 37.9 GB
Create extend partitiion /dev/hda4 (33.0GB)
Sate swap partition /dev/hda5 (855.0GB)
Create root partition /dev/hda6 (10.0GB) with reiserfs
Create partition /dev/hda7 (22.2GB) for /home with reiserfs

I am installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
Gnome(Default)
Size of Packages to Install 2.4 GB

I am trying to install SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 on a Dell Dimension 3000 from the CD .iso image. But when I get to the Partition Options I get 5 options listed above. I left everything else unchanged and I accept the first one which is
Shrink windows partition /dev/hda2 to 37.9 GB and I get an Error message: Failure occurred during following action: Shrinking partition/dev/hda2 to 37.9 GB System error code was:-3027. I don't know which one to choose from the other 4 options since I never used Linux before. I want to be able to have a dual boot on the same computer which is currently using Xp HOme Edition and I want to add Linux. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Update: My only IDE, is a 74.5GB,/dev/hda,Maxtor 6y080l0
and I pick up the Custom Partition but I don't know which one to try on this set up either. I don't want to install in the wrong one and erase data from windows.

1. 39.2MB, Dell Utility(/dev/hda1)
2. 71.0GB, HPFS/NTFS ( /dev/hda2)
3. 3.3GB,CP/M/CTOS (/dev/hda3)
4. 7.8MB, unassigned

As far as I had read on the forums 2. 71.0GB, HPFS/NTFS (/dev/hda2) countians windows but I don't know what 3. 3.3GB CP/M/CTOS (/dev/hda2) contains. Do I need this? or is it safe to select that partition? I try the 4. option 7.8MB unassigned but is saids there is not enough room to install linux on that one. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Turn off the windows swap file and defrag a few times and try again, and see if it works

I want to thank you for your advise. I follow your directions and it work. Now I am stuck on the 3rd Cd of the installation, in which is asking me for a user name and password. I try the password that I use to register into the Novell web site where I downloaded Suse and is not working. I have a validation code, is that my user name? And if so what about the password. I try those too with no luck. Any advise? Thank You. A newbie.
Ps I also look for an answer on the forums with no luck :-(

Are you sure that it isn't asking you to make a username and password?, are you using Suse linux Enterprise or normal SuSE

Try "root" for the password