Preinstallation Problems

Some problems might arise before you even begin the installation process. These typically involve the DVD. This section addresses four typical problems.

Problem: My PC is unable to boot from a DVD, so I cannot install Linux from the DVD.

Solution: Some older PCs are unable to boot from CD or DVD-ROM drives. However, this doesn't mean that you cannot install SUSE Linux on these PCs. The DVD includes utilities to create a series of three boot floppies, which can be used to trigger the installation routine from the DVD. Here are the steps for creating the installation floppies:

1. Boot into Windows and insert the SUSE Linux DVD into the drive. Insert a blank, 1.44MB floppy disk into the floppy drive.

2. Use My Computer to browse to \dosutils\rawwritewin\rawwritewin.exe on the SUSE Linux DVD-ROM. Double-click the program to start it.

3. Locate the Image File box and click the button to the right of it in order to browse to the \boot folder on the DVD-ROM.

4. Select the file named bootdsk1 (you will need to alter the Files of Type drop-down list so that All files (*.*) is selected). Then click the Write button.

5. Watch the percentage progress indicator at the bottom left of the program window. When it reaches 100%, the creation of the boot disk has finished. Label the disk SUSE Linux install disk 1.

6. Insert a fresh floppy disk and repeat steps 2 through 5, this time selecting the file named bootdsk2 and labeling the disk SUSE Linux install disk 2.

7. Repeat the process once more, writing the file named bootdsk3 and labeling the disk SUSE Linux install disk 3.

8. When all three floppies have been created, click the Exit button, and then reboot your PC, ensuring the DVD-ROM is inserted and the first boot floppy is in the floppy disk drive. Then follow the instructions on your screen. See the notes in the previous chapter regarding actual installation.

Problem: My PC doesn't have a DVD-ROM drive. It has only a CD-ROM drive.

Solution: In this case, you obviously won't be able to install SUSE Linux from the DVD-ROM supplied with this book. However, DVD-ROM drives are relatively inexpensive and you might consider upgrading your hardware. Alternatively, you can visit www.suse.com/us/private/download/suse_linux/, where you can download a CD-ROM ISO image of SUSE Linux. Once downloaded, this ISO image can be burned to a blank CD-R disc using a Windows utility such as Ahead's Nero (check the program's manual or help file to learn how to burn ISO images).

Problem: When I boot from the DVD, everything appears to run smoothly for a few seconds, but then the system freezes before installation starts.

Solution: Your system cannot boot into SUSE Linux's YaST2 graphical installer. This happens for a variety of reasons with a minority of computers. However, it should still be possible to install Linux using an older version of YaST, which has a text-mode installation routine. To access this version of YaST, hold down the Shift key just before the SUSE Linux DVD starts to boot (just after your PC has finished its boot-time memory testing).

Using the text-mode installation routine is similar to using YaST2's graphical installer, as described in the previous chapter, except that you don't use your mouse. Instead, you must use the keyboard's cursor keys to highlight various options, and the Tab key to move from field to field (rather like using an application within MS-DOS). Press Enter or the spacebar to select options.

The main installation options are virtually identical to those offered within the graphical installation. See Chapter 5 for guidance.

Problem: When I attempt to install, I choose the Installation option from the DVD boot menu, but the progress bar freezes before the actual installation program starts.

Solution: See the previous solution.