Question for you linux pros!

[Kan]

I installed Mandrake, but mandrakes evil and wouldnt
work. So now I'm going to SuSE (due to an article).
So I booted this linux up. All seemed pretty good,
but it didnt give me an option to say where to
install it onto... then it started install config
files etc, but where? I got a little freaked because
I don't want it try to overwrite my XP or some
important crap.

How do I get into the partition program, delete a
partition and make it intall to there, before it
starts trying install files to strange places?


ps Im a bit secptic about linux, its done some
mean things to me before.

[Doctor V]

First, back up your critical data, to be safe.

Do you have extra partitions on your hard drive?  If so good, if not get an application called partition magic or somthing similar to shorten you XP partition and make space for linux.

Once you have a partition to put Linux on, during installation any linux should ask you what partition to install it on.  If Suse does not do this, and Mandrake doesn't work, try out Red Hat 9.0.  Can't lose with Red Hat.

V

[Pantso]

Ok, as I see it you don't have the basic knowledge required to install Linux. That is you don't seem to know how Linux handles devices etc. What I suggest you do, is grab a good book on Linux or consult an online manual (I'll dig up a URL or two for you) and then try to install Linux.

However, SuSE's installer (YaST 2) is excellent and can be extremely helpful in case you're looking to shrinking down your existing partitions. Do remember though, that you'll get in trouble if you try to narrow down NTFS partitions. As far as I know, only Mandrake 9.1 can resize NTFS partitions.  

[Kan]

Dude Ive installed Debian and Mandrake, but usualy
the first step I take is use their system to sort
the partitions out. On SuSe it goes though their own
order and doesn't let you choose what steps you take. It seemed to me like it was trying to isntall
some pretty important files in strange places when
I dont have a sperate partition for it, so like you
would I asumed it was overwriting XP or anther Linux
I have installed. I guess I'll use partition magic
and totally deleted my other OS and hope it installs
to their.

[Pantso]

Ah ok. Forgive me then.     Well, in that case could you tell me which SuSE distro you were installing? The reason I'm asking is that there are minor differences between versions 7.* and 8.*, as far as the installation procedure goes. If you were installing one of the 8.* distros then you should have been presented with the default partitioning scheme before the actual installation, which you could then change to suit your taste. If you've installed Debian as you say, then you shouldn't have the least of problems with SuSE.   :confused:  I mean Debian has one of the hardest installers and partitioning tools (cfdisk if I'm correct).

[shuiend]

Could i ask where you got Suse from. I am thinking you have the Live Eval version instead of the one you can install. The live eval version runs completely off the cd so you dont have to install it.

[Kan]

haha Panos yeah debian was a mish   :rolleyes:  

Anyway wild_jester / BOB you are right, I do have Live Eval. All this confusion for no reason!!
I got it from Bali and didnt know there was more then one SuSE and as you can see I found it quite strange when it was trying to install and configure
files etc.

Can you explain what this Live Eval is for? Is it
possible to install?

[Faust]

Live eval may be possible to install, but it would probably be better to go with a "proper" Suse.  Last time I did a hard drive install of a "live" Linux (Knoppix 3.2) it was slightly buggy, and definitely not for a new user.  It's much easier to get a full version of something.  I heartily recomend Mandrake.

edit:Woops, sorry didnt see that you had tried Mandrake.  What was wrong with it anyway?

[ June 24, 2003: Message edited by: Faust ]

[Kan]

I had trouble getting my connection up and running thought mandrake.
Let me explain. I would try and connect though 1 of 2 of the dial up programs and as you know it tryes to connect to your network, of which I dont have a chip (line drops straight after that). The other dial up program wouldnt connect to pppd and couldnt take the dial tone off (which is vital).

Out of alot of work and hassel I finally got some sort of connection working, BUT when I tryed to search it wouldnt search.. if I clicked on anything it was the same as if your are offline.

So the internet wouldnt work for whatever stuped reason. After this I tryed going back into mandrake after about a week of defeat and the whole thing went burzerk! It went to a total blue screen with all the program missing.

Strange but ture, and I havent tryed a reinstall after that horriable experience.


What do you suggest?