try to install SUSE 10.0 (suse 8.0 is running on this machine,
P3, 933MHz, Siemens Scenic XP).
First Live CD (also safe settings) --> hang up (Live CD is running, tested on other PC): First I can select LiveCD, language etc, and verbose mode than start, nothing --> black screen, blinking cursor

Test with older Suse:
Run suse9.3 live CD run until text: loading ide-core --> stops
run suse 9.3 live cd --> hang up

Test knoppilin cd 4 from CT magazin --> running

SUSE 8.0 is running on this machine !

AND: Have to use Suse, switch to other distribution is not allowed.

Whats now ? Any suggestions ? Thanks in advance !

gohawaii

A LiveCD requires a lot of RAM, maybe your system doesn't provide enought?

I would give it a try and install 10.0. I'd assume that the installer freezes before doing any damage, if there is some kind of hardware incompatibility. You could run memtest as well. Sometimes defective RAM causes the system to freeze.

255 Mbyte memory is not enough ?
Suse 8.0 is running on this machine, so I think memory AND HW is okay.
First looking for a"backup machine", thanI can try to install on this PC.

If somebody has further Ids, please help.
Note that wether 9.3 Live nor 10.0 Live is running (?? kernel 2.6) ??

goHawaii

I'd still go for the memory test. A LiveCD depends entirely on memory, while an installed version may be able to run without problems.