Chapter 2. Custom Installation

Table of Contents

2.1. Starting Your System from the CD-ROM
2.2. The Boot Screen
2.3. Language Selection
2.4. Installation Mode
2.5. Installation Suggestion
2.6. Finishing the Installation
2.7. Hardware Configuration
2.8. Graphical Login

Abstract

The previous chapter covered the quick installation procedure. This chapter provides detailed information about the settings you can modify by starting the relevant module from the suggestion window. This gives complete control over the installation.

2.1. Starting Your System from the CD-ROM

Insert the first SUSE LINUX CD or the DVD into the drive. Then reboot the computer to start the installation program from the medium in the drive.

2.1.1. Possible Problems when Starting from the CD/DVD

If you experience problems booting from CD 1, one of the following items is probably the cause. Resolve the problem as described.

  • The CD-ROM drive is not able to read the boot image on the first CD. In this case, use CD 2 to boot the system. CD 2 contains a conventional 2.88 MB boot image, which can be read even by older drives.

  • The boot sequence in the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is incorrect. The BIOS is a software for activating the basic functions of a computer. Motherboard vendors provide a BIOS that is adapted to the hardware. Information about changing the BIOS settings is provided in the documentation of your motherboard and in the following paragraphs.

    Normally, the BIOS setup can only be accessed at a specific time — when the machine is booting. During this initialization phase, the machine performs a number of diagnostic hardware tests. One of them is a memory check, recognizable from the memory counter. When the counter appears, look for a line, usually below the counter or somewhere at the bottom, mentioning the key to press to access the BIOS setup. Usually the key to press is Del, F1, or Esc. Press this key until the BIOS setup screen appears.

    To change the boot sequence in an AWARD BIOS, look for the BIOS FEATURES SETUP entry. Other manufacturers may have a different name for this, such as ADVANCED CMOS SETUP. When you have found the entry, select it and confirm with Enter.

    In the screen that opens, look for a subentry called BOOT SEQUENCE. The boot sequence is often set to something like C,A or A,C. In the former case, the machine first searches the hard disk (C) then the floppy drive (A) to find a bootable medium. Change the settings by pressing Page up or Page down until the sequence is A,CDROM,C.

    Leave the BIOS setup screen by pressing Esc. To save the changes, select SAVE & EXIT SETUP or press F10. To confirm that your settings should be saved, press Y.

    If you have a SCSI CD-ROM drive, you need to change the setup of the SCSI BIOS. In the case of an Adaptec host adapter, for instance, open the setup by pressing Ctrl-A. After that, select Disk Utilities, which displays the connected hardware components. Make a note of the SCSI ID for your CD-ROM drive. Exit the menu with Esc then open Configure Adapter Settings. Under Additional Options, select Boot Device Options and press Enter. Enter the ID of the CD-ROM drive and press Enter again. Then press Esc twice to return to the start screen of the SCSI BIOS. Exit this screen and confirm with Yes to boot again.

  • Your CD-ROM drive may not be supported because it is an older model.