Dual-Booting Windows XP and OpenSuse Linux

Installing a second OS (Operating System) alongside Windows XP may seem like a complicated process to users who have no experience dual-booting. In truth, the process is quite simple involving very little risk. That being said, we do want to take steps to make sure we don't lose any data should we encounter problems.

In this how-to I will make extensive use of screenshots to further simplify the process of installing OpenSUSE Linux alongside Windows XP. I apologize in advance to those users with a slow Internet connection. I will make sure the images are optimized as much as possible while still providing a good visual guide to the entire process. A picture may not be worth a thousand words, but in this case I feel they have merit.

This scenario will involve the installation of OpenSUSE Linux on a system that already has Windows XP installed. I will start by showing you how to make room for OpenSUSE Linux from within Windows XP; this will be followed by the downloading, burning, and booting of your OpenSUSE Linux LiveCD; and finally I will walk you through the entire OpenSUSE Linux install including post-install maintenance.

Before you are able to install OpenSUSE Linux on your PC (Personal Computer) you will need free up space for the install. I recommend a minimum of 10GB for your OpenSUSE Linux install, with no upper limit, depending on your personal needs. At a bare minimum I do like to see 8GB for a combined root (/) and home (/home) partition as well as a 2GB swap partition. Ideally, if you can spare the room, I'd like to see 3 partitions; a 6-8GB root (/), 2GB swap (this is overkill on most systems and will generally end up being less if you use the partitions suggested by the installer.), with home (/home) taking up the remaining space. One thing to keep in mind is that the OpenSUSE Linux installer will use the 3 partition setup if you accept the default partitioning scheme so the more space you can spare, within reason, the better!

To access the disk management system on your Windows XP system:

start button > control panel > performance and maintenance > administrative tools > computer management > disk management system

At this point you will have to create a new partition to hold your OpenSUSE Linux partitions. You may need to resize, delete or move partitions to free up the space you will need depending on your current hard drive setup. Whichever scenario is applicable the end result must be a solid block of free space in which you will create your OpenSUSE Linux partitions once you have booted the OpenSUSE Linux LiveCD.