Chapter 4: Preinstallation Steps

Overview

The first part of this book discussed the pros and cons of using Linux as part of your day-today life. It was intended to help you evaluate Linux and understand what you're buying into should you decide to make it your operating system of choice. Now, we move on to actually installing Linux and, specifically, SUSE Linux, which is included with this book on a DVD.

Installing any kind of operating system is a big move and can come as something of a shock to your PC. However, SUSE Linux makes this complicated maneuver as easy as it's possible to be. Its installation routines are very advanced compared to previous versions of Linux, and even compared to other current distributions. It even puts the Windows installation routine to shame.

What does saying that you're going to install SUSE Linux actually mean? This effectively implies three things:

• Somehow all the files necessary to run SUSE Linux are going to be put onto your hard disk.

• The PC will be configured so that it knows where to find these files when it first boots up.

• The entire system will be set up so that you, the user, can work on it.

However, in order to do all this and get SUSE Linux onto your PC, you must undertake some preparatory work, which is the focus of this chapter.