OpenSuse not booting properly

[charlie6143]

I have downloaded both Gnome and Kde versions of OpenSuse and burnt the discs. I installed the gnome version onto a blank hard drive and it seemed to install ok but on booting up I finish up with only a blinking line/curser and nothing else happens.
I then installed the kde version onto a hard drive which already had window xp home installed. Again, this seemed to install ok but same result, blinking line/curser. It seems to dual boot ok as I can still boot into windows xp and run as normal.
I am a complete novice in linux but have tried and installed various other distros but haven't been able to get online with them.
I am desperate to succeed this time no matter how many times I have to install.
I have several computers at home a plenty of hard drives so I Am well backed up and therefore don't have to worry about losing my Windows installions.
Very encouraging to see so much assistance available. Keep up the good work

[Freston]

With what I know of openSUSE, I'm thinking something is wrong. It should boot into graphics.

Now, that you have this trouble with both KDE and Gnome leads me to believe it's X related. Video driver?? Do you have a graphics card? If yes, what kind?

I am desperate to succeed this time

That's the spirit

[Manchunian]

Hello,

This really sounds like a graphics card problem. As Freston said, we need to know what type of graphics card you have. Also, it would help if you gave more information about your hardware: how much RAM do you have? What is the processor?
Getting a blank screen with a flashing cursor is actually quite a common thing - it's a shared Linux experience. Welcome to the club! Fortunately, it's usually solved very easily.

[charlie6143]

Thanks Freston and Manchunian for your replies and advise.
I got to thinking after posting the thread that it could be a graphics card problem.
I did both installations on a computer with PC Chips mobo, NVidia GeForce FX5200 graphics card, Sempron processor and 256mb Ram. The graphics card was the pci variety and not agp
I am now going to try several installations using a variety of mobos, processors and onboard, agp and pci graphics and will get back to you both with the results.
Here's hoping

[charlie6143]

Thanks Manchunian for your reply and advise. Please see my reply to Freston

[charlie6143]

Have now managed to instal the KDE version of OpenSuse on 2 computers and better still, have now managed to get online with both using my DLink router.
Now I have to spend time finding my way around.
Thanks again to you guys for all the help.

[Freston]

Wow! That's worth a compliment

If you have more questions, feel free to ask!

[Manchunian]

Congratulations

How did your sort out your blinking screen problem? It'd be interesting to know. I'd also like to know how Suse runs on your computer: 256mb RAM doesn't seem much for Suse, which is one of the most CPU-thirsty distributinos out there.