HELP!!! 64-Bit Problems!!!
 

Hi,
Im new to Linux, I just got SuSE 9.1 x86_64 version. I got this version because I just got a new Opteron 146 processor and needed to try out some 64-bit stuff. Anyway, theres a HUGE problem with my whole configuration! When I boot up, it shows the SK8N logo screen, then goes to a message that says something about SATA (which i don't have) and says detecting............... Device not found! Bios is not installed! Then is restarts. But when I put linux on, it boots to Linux. I want my windows partition back, so I formatted drive C: and then tried to boot off my XP CD, but it doesn't work, after it boots from CD it says it's inspecting my hardware configuration, then stops at a blank black screen. Linux is the only thing i can boot too! It won't boot to floppy, or CD-ROM, just Linux! I need to know how to install Windows again on my newly formatted C: Drive.

System now:

ASUS SK8N
AMD Opteron 146
512 mb Registered ram
Maxtor 40 gb HD
ATI Radeon 9600

Old System:

ECS K7S5A
AMD Athlon XP 1700+
512 mb Unbuffered ram
Maxtor 40 gb HD
ATI Radeon 9600

Also, if anyone knows an answer to this question, are there ANY 64-bit drivers for my hardware, i havn't found any. And is there any 64-bit software out there at all for linux?

This doesn't sound much like a 64-bit related problem to me.

If you can't boot the system, how did you install Linux?

There's currently only one 64-bit processor standard right now, so any 64-bit Linux software should run on your setup, including SuSE 9.1. As for what software is available, most Linux software is distributed as source code, so anything you can compile is “available” for 64-bit processors. Some software (notably including the kernel) will have additional 64-bit support.

I dont know why it let me install linux! it just wont boot up the XP CD, but I think I might know why, theres a pin on the back of my harddrive that is pushed in halfway, does this mean the harddrive won't work? And for some reason, it WILL boot the XP CD on my 6 gb drive.