Preparing to Install from a CD-ROM or DVD

The media included with this book is bootable and will install SUSE Linux directly when you start your computer. The main thing you need to know before starting the process is whether your BIOS is set to boot from your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Caution

Changing BIOS settings can be dangerous, and it's not hard to make a computer unbootable with the wrong setting. Follow these instructions carefully and don't change any other setting unless you know what you're doing.

To check this, reboot your computer. Among the first things you see on your screen as the computer starts up is the method of accessing your BIOS settings. Often this is the Delete or Escape key; other times, it is one of the function keys at the top of the keyboard. Each BIOS manufacturer does things differently. Press this key as soon as you see it. Shortly, the settings will appear.

Look for a setting title called Boot Sequence, Boot Order, or something similar. This setting determines where the BIOS looks for a bootloader code that tells it the volume is bootable. The setting itself should look something like this if the CD-ROM is to be checked first:

CD-ROM, C:, floppy 

Tip

Change the order accordingly if you are installing from DVD.

Every drive that may be bootable should be listed here. This order points first to the CD drive, then the hard drive (which may be identified as either IDE or SCSI instead of the Windows drive letter), and then the floppy. It's possible that either the hard drive or the floppy may come first in the sequence. In this instance, you should adjust the setting so that the CD is checked before the hard drive. To change the setting, use the Tab key to highlight the Boot Sequence, then press Enter to change the setting. This process, again, varies from BIOS to BIOS. You should get a list of possible sequences from which you can choose, or you may have to select each drive in the order you want.

Note

Checking other drives before the hard drive will slow your boot time a few seconds, so you may want to reset the Boot Sequence after your SUSE Linux installation is completed.

Learn more about your BIOS and the boot process in Chapter 22, "Managing the Boot Process and Other Services."

Select a sequence similar to the one listed in this section, and save your new choice. If the first SUSE Linux CD or the SUSE DVD is in the drive, it should now boot. If not, and another operating system is installed, the computer may boot to that OS. If the computers boots to another OS, make sure the SUSE CD is in the drive and then restart your computer.