Installing SuSE-10.2 - newbies please read

[oldcpu]

Just a reminder for any newbies following this forum, ... please if you decide to download SuSE-10.2, pay attention to the MD5 checksum.

The theory here is one downloads the appropriate .iso file(s) with SuSE-10.2. For those who already have linux, one then runs "md5sum file.iso" (or something like that) in a konsole, against the downloaded file (which in my example I called "file.iso"). This will give an md5 checksum value. One then compares that to the checksum that is on the download web site. If they don't match, you have a problem, and you MUST download again.

For MS-Windows users, please note, to calculate the MD5 checksum of your downloaded file(s) [to compare to the web site MD5 checksum],there are free downloads of program that conduct an MD5 checksum.

A completely free, application for running the md5 checksum on a number of different operating systems, is here on sourceforge.net:
http://md5deep.sourceforge.net/

Another of MS-Windows users (that has both a free and commercial version) that I've never used this myself, but it looks to me like it should be able to calculate the checksum is here:
http://www.fastsum.com/


Typically, bittorent downloads are more reliable than FTP or HTTP downloads.

Next, when one burns, burn the CD/DVD iso file as an "image file". For windows users, in Nero, this does not mean selecting some iso option, but rather means selecting the "image" option (I don't have nero, so I don't know the windoze details, but I've read dozens of complaints/mistakes here from Newbie Linux users who have just left Windoze). Edit: Note - Do NOT select the Nero (or whatever) option to make them bootable (because that will add a windows boot kernel to the CD, which you do NOT want). Do NOT. By burning them as an IMAGE, you precisely duplicate what was on the image and the image already has a LINUX boot kernel.

When burning, please burn at the SLOWEST speed your burner will allow. YES, the slowest. If you have an old PC with a functioning burner that burns REAL slow, that is often a good PC to do the burn from, since you can burn at a slower speed. Also, choose a CD/DVD media that is of the highest quality you can get. Don't use some no name bargain basement brand CD/DVD that you know nothing about.

Also, on the PC where the installation is to be done, ensure in one's BIOS that the PC is set to boot from the CD/DVD drive before booting from the hard drive.

When installing SuSE-10.2, you may be given an option to check the MD5 checksum on your CDs (I know SuSE-10.1 remastered have this feature). Take the extra hour (or more) to do this!! It will potentially save you many evenings later on down the road, looking for some ellusive problem that you can't find.

OK, my apologies to those who are not newbies for this very basic post.

Good luck, and have fun, to all.

Edit (15-12-06): added note that one should NOT add a "bootable" option to them. Burning as an IMAGE file is what one wants.

[bryansmith]

Very well thought out post. Just a note for all of those who read this: this is not specific to Suse. This is inclusive of all ISO's you download and burn.

Happy burning!

Bryan

[The NoOb]

Blimey i was searching the internet for this information for dayz, and hey presto, first post on the forum I looked at and there it is.

You just saved me divorcing my wife!

Wow burn the disks as an image, now every noOb'll just make a data disk like me.

Well unlucky for you, you can't have my wife any more!


I'll update you later if she becomes free if i need to get my head in the handbook.

LOVE U!

Ok next problem.
I have instant CD/DVD software.

anyone know which option?

There is one for data (didn't work, already wasted 5 disks)
One for Music (obvioulsy not)
One for Mp3 (nope)
And one for image/video (is this what you mean?)
Never done this i'm a little scared

Sadly i don't have nero with me but it's like burning photo's?

I only have 6 cd's left.

[joewee]

umm, where do ya get the checksum for a torrent download?

Without having done any research would there be any point in upgrading from 10.1 to 10.2?

[oldcpu]

umm, where do ya get the checksum for a torrent download?

http://en.opensuse.org/Released_Version

[AlexK]

Ok next problem.
I have instant CD/DVD software.

anyone know which option?

There is one for data (didn't work, already wasted 5 disks)
One for Music (obvioulsy not)
One for Mp3 (nope)
And one for image/video (is this what you mean?)
Never done this i'm a little scared

Sadly i don't have nero with me but it's like burning photo's?

I only have 6 cd's left.

try ISO recorder found here

or you could always download a trial version of nero (30 days) and still burn iso's.

[oldcpu]

Here is some advice from the SuSE-10.2 reference manual, which is useful users who are updating (or re-installing) their SuSE for the first time.

5.1 Updating the System

5.1.1 Preparations

Before updating, copy the old configuration files to a separate medium, such as streamer, removable hard disk, USB stick, or ZIP drive, to secure the data. This primarily applies to files stored in /etc as well as some of the directories and files in /var and /opt. You may also want to write the user data in /home (the HOME directories) to backup medium. Back up this data as root. Only root has read permission for all local files.

Before starting your update, make note of the root partition. The command df / lists the device name of the root permission. There is also df -h .

[kcasper]

When burning, please burn at the SLOWEST speed your burner will allow. YES, the slowest. If you have an old PC with a functioning burner that burns REAL slow, that is often a good PC to do the burn from, since you can burn at a slower speed. Also, choose a CD/DVD media that is of the highest quality you can get. Don't use some no name bargain basement brand CD/DVD that you know nothing about.

This is actually a very bad piece of advice. Most cheap CD burners are made to cause the least errors at their fastest speed since that is the selling speed. If a burner ever makes a bad cd at the top speed then you should consider sending it in on warranty for a replacement, not slowing it down to a speed where it will almost certainly make more minor errors even if the cd is viable. If you have an old 4x cd burner it will be more accurate than a 24x running at 4x. In fact it might be more accurate than a 24x running at 24x speed. However a 24x cd burner running at 4x is often less accurate than a 24x cd burner running at 24x.

The above quote is best for people running old equipment that may be malfunctioning to reduce errors, not newbies with new hardware.

[oldcpu]

If a burner ever makes a bad cd at the top speed then

... no no no. You missed the point. The point is not that the CD is "bad". Indeed, the CD could pass an md5sum on some PCs. The point is that a CD burned at high speed tends to have a "lighter" burn than that of a CD burned at a lower speed. This means the CD drive often has to read the data multiple times before it can decypher the data.

Particularly in the case of older PCs (but not confined to older pcs) ... because they are slower, when reading they are unable to re-read the data sufficient times, before an error occurs. The slower the burn speed when burning the CD, the better.

I completely disagree with your statement advising users to burn at a high speed (such as 24x). That is very very bad advice that was provided in that statement. Burning at 24x is useful only for users who have reasonably recent equipment.

To provide general overall advice, that works for most users, the best thing to do is burn at slow speed. .... But don't believe me on this, surf this a lot, and you will find this is what works the most consistently.

Edit: I know of at least a dozen cases (on another forum) where users burned at x24 or so, and their install failed. They slowed down to x8 (or less) and the install worked. Nothing else changed.

[dr_girly_clueless]

Hi all,
I am a newbie to linux!

Interesting peice of reading!

I am having the problem that, i want to partician suse onto an external hard drive.

During my first ever installation attempt , there were various options for a partician, but the external harddrive wasnt even there.

Why wasnt it recognised?