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General discussion

install linux from within windows

Jul 14, 2005 6:47PM PDT

hi

ive got a windows xp machine, but i wanted to dual boot with suse 9.1. I have the suse CD, but the CDRW drive isnt bootable - even though i have the option in the bios to boot from it.

Is there any way to install linux from windows? or am i just going to have to give it up Happy

thanks

brian

P2 400Mhz
256mb Kingston DDR
40gb maxtor (single NTFS partition)
Windows XP Pro (corp) with SP2

Discussion is locked

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I always...
Jul 14, 2005 10:22PM PDT

Fix the nonbooting CD issue. It's the easy way out. Either BIOS update, or a new CDROM drive and it's usually cured.

If you can't (or won't) fix it, you have to look into diskette boot options for Linux installs. I will not duplicate web pages about RAWRITE and how to make these boot diskettes since it's documented all over.

Bob

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new cdrom
Jul 15, 2005 1:34AM PDT

Hi

thanks for ur help.

the cd drive is a brand new phillips cd-rw - but its an older machine so im a bit worried about bios updates (i believe the bios is VERY old) - i also dont know how you would update the older bios.

thanks again for your help..

brian

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How I update an old bios.
Jul 15, 2005 4:29AM PDT

I research the make/model of the machine if there is such. Or the make/model of the motherboard if it's some homebrew. Then I see what new BIOS is offered by it's maker.

I then follow their update instructions. In some 15+ years I've never lost a board, but then again I tend to use read the instructions.

Bob

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bios update
Jul 20, 2005 1:41AM PDT

hi

thanks, i updated the bios (its a dell optiplex GX1 with the original board) and it took about 5 secs to do Happy

the cdrw is now bootable - although its still a problem that ive never come accross before Happy


thanks again

brian

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Thank you!
Jul 29, 2005 1:22AM PDT

I have been looking for this solution! I ended up frustrated yesterday cause I couldn't find what exactly I needed to do to get Linux to install. All my search results were for errors in the process (rather than the initial boot) and getting Linux to boot from Win XP after it was installed.

Sorry about bumping a slightly older thread, but I can't express enough how happy I am to find out it's this simple.