[Skivvywaver]

Guys and gals, I am wanting to try linux and have pretty much settled on suse linux but I have a few questions that are going to seem pretty stupid to you old linux heads.

1.Can I run linux off a partition or do I need to dedicate a whole drive?

2.Is the drive forever linux if I decide I don't want it anymore? In other words can I reformat it to NTFS if linux IMO sucks?

I would rather run it from a partition and dual boot that way if possible. My hardware shouldn't be an issue but I am going to post it for you to look at. I am running.

AMD 3700+ 939 @ 2640 mhz
1 gig crucial XMS 3200
Asus A8V Deluxe (via K8T800 Pro chipset)
Nvidia 6800GT
Soundblaster live 24 bit

Also, is there a direct download for suse? All I am finding are torrents. I have no real problem using a torrent but I would rather use a download manager if possible. Torrents can have seeding problems, server gets shutdown etc.

I would appreciate any input, I am wanting to learn something new. Thanks.

[tsunam]

1. Linux can be run on a single partition, a swap partition would be a good idea as well

2. You can format the drive at any time and get a clean hard drive back...Its just data on disks..0's or 1's

3. should be able to grab a direct download iso from here: http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=2

[Skivvywaver]

Thanks, I shall snatch something tonight whilst I snooze. Much appreciated.

[Skivvywaver]

Which one will I need to download? I am figuring the 5 disk set but I am pretty Linux illiterate.

Also, how big should I make the partition? I am going to use my primary master, a 120 gig running XP pro. Would a 40 gig partition be enough for me to try it out? Would 40 gig be overkill?

I am not ashamed to admit I am really a noob at what I am about to do here.

Me got no experience with Linux.

[CouchMaster]

40gb is fine - and SuSE will shrink the partition for you during install if you so desire. I'm running 20gb partitions on mine with a 750mb swap partition. If you use a swap partition you don't have to worry about fragmenting the Linux part of the HD - hence no defragmenting needed - ever!

[Skivvywaver]

Do I need the 5 disc set or what guys? I am going to D/L it tonight, or at least start.

[CarlssonMB]

9.1 is only 1 disc, I'd go with that

[CouchMaster]

I'm running 9.1 pro but I'd try SuSE 10 myself if I weren't. It has been out for awhile, said to be pretty stable and supposed to be better than 9.2 or 9.3
9.1 is great but it takes 2+ hours to DL and install all of the updates and patches.

[saikee]

I recommend a lightweight like Slax or simply Mepis for the first timer.

Suse is OK but it is a all-singing and all-dancing heavy weight distro. I was brought up by Suse 9.1 (yes it took hours to updated with the Internet) but mind you I had a full set of printed manual to start with. It is the first distro in my box and I have since added Suse 10. Suse generally shows very little weakness against the other distros. It just takes too long to boot.

Lightweight distros, especially the recent ones, tend to be easier to install, faster to boot, less hungry for disk space, smarter in detecting the hardware and would mount the Windows partitions automatically.