Heyya folks! I am new to the world of linux. My question is similar to that of "spoonbender".

I have laptop and have got a copy of SuSE 10.1.

I inserted the installation dvd at bootup and reached the same place as him. However, in my case, I get three such suggestions (apart from the resize, swap creation and root creation):

- Set moint point of /dev/hda5 to windows/C
- Set mount point of /dev/hda6 to windows/E
- Set mount point of /dev/hda7 to windows/F

My laptop's got a 40 GB HDD. Its got three partitions...one with windows installed on it...one with the programmes...and one with my documents. Currently I have windows xp. I WILL BE INSTALLING SUSE ON AN 80 GB EXTERNAL HDD WITH SOME DATA ON IT THAT I CAN'T GET RID OFF!

Do these suggestions mean that all my partitions will work? And what did you mean by:

" The first would (via the write option) enable you
to do harm to your XP, but it's not dangerous in itself. "

in "spoonbender" case? Is there any reason because of which I'll screw up my windows?

Thanks people...it would be a great help if you could let me know ASAP. I'm desperate to start using SuSE!

If I understood you right, those options just mean SuSE would create mountpoints for your Windows partitions, so you could access the data on them. If it's Windows XP using ntfs filesystem, you can read the data from the ntfs partitions but writing to such a partition may fail (current methods do not work all right). It still won't probably break anything, but it simply means you won't be able to write stuff to your Windows ntfs partitions everytime (say, half of the data might get written and the other half not, you might be unable to delete stuff etc.)

As far as you don't install SuSE on the same harddisk and overwrite any of the Windows partitions, you won't be doing any damage. The other option is to screw with the bootloader so neither of the operating systems are able to boot, but that can be fixed easily using a Linux or Windows install disc. If you're installing Linux on another harddisk than the master one, be sure the other harddisk is on the first ide cable (not sure how it goes with external disks?), since if the 2nd harddisk is on the secondary ide cable, the bootloader may fail to work (I've heard; I don't have 2 discs myself, so..)

Conclusion: no, you won't destroy anything if you just make sure you are not installing SuSE in place of Windows; that is, on the same harddisk, and formatting it. The mountpoints you described enable you to read (and perhaps write, if you like) your Windows partitions, but writing/deleting stuff from them may not work at 100% success. Still, you won't be doing any damage.

EDIT: you can install SuSE on the same harddisk with Windows too, using the resize option, just read carefully you aren't formatting the whole harddisk. Resizing the Windows partition(s) means they're made smaller in order to create free space for Linux - before doing this it might be wise to run the defragmentation tool of Windows.

Thanks Mr. Bouncer! I have another small question to ask...although I feel stupid asking this!

The first suggestion which says:

- Shrink windows partition /dev/sda1 to 37 GB

YES IT IS /dev/SDA1... (SDA referring to the external HDD I presume)

is all in RED and has the bullet circled in red as well. What's that supposed to mean?

The other tiny question is...my other hard disk is an external USB one...do you think its ok to install on it? Because you said:

" If you're installing Linux on another harddisk than the master one, be sure the other harddisk is on the first ide cable (not sure how it goes with external disks?), since if the 2nd harddisk is on the secondary ide cable, the bootloader may fail to work (I've heard; I don't have 2 discs myself, so..) "

Also...I am shifting my bootloader's location to /dev/sda1 (i.e. onto the external HDD). Would this be of any help?

Ah...another thing...in the packages...it shows an error that it can't detect any packages! I wish to install the KDE visuals. Do you think that my DVD is "incomplete"? Will it not install the OS?

Thanks a many!!

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Suse/Novell and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Well....firstly sorry about posting the thread in the wrong place. Thanks for moving it here.

Now that I AM here, can anyone lend me a hang please!?

Sorry I haven't had a chance to do a usb-harddisk install, so I can't guarantee what happens. I can say though that you should install the bootloader to the first (master) harddisk, and then hope it has no problems booting from the USB harddisk (I see no reason why it should have problems). I hope somebody has more experience on this and will now scream if I'm misleading you..

Hm. Red color often (in the nature, anyway ) marks danger of some kind, so maybe the installer is trying to convince you this is not the best choice. There is nothing wrong with that option, but maybe it's a better idea to install on another harddisk if possible. Also installing everything, including the bootloader, onto an external harddisk sounds not-so-convincing to me, I'd stick to internal harddisks myself (not usb-ones).

Where does it say it can't "detect packages"? Is it somewhere where you should be able to choose what to install? If so, then better check the disc is complete (md5sum or something?). If it means it can't detect any packages on your harddisk then it's just true if you haven't installed anything yet. I'll just say check the disc before proceeding to the installation, to make sure there is stuff on board.