Duel hdd install

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi all, I’ve decided to run openSUSE and windows vista, but as I’ve just bought a new HDD I’m going to install windows on the new HDD(1TB) and have SUSE on the old one(currently windows).
Before I do that though will it work? and if so should I install them in a particular order e.g. windows first the suse or suse first?
And if anyone knows of any problems that I might have to deal with could you tell me please.

Thanks

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This was written for an older version of SUSE, but the principles are the same
Partitioning/Install Guide - openSUSE Forums

You should install winders first
Change the HD boot order to have the Linux HD as first boot HD and install grub to the master boot record. In a 11.2 install there is a easy switch for that
http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1paSGr5ItB3g28ysLyZyR70e8QSrc2uFAgr1HeyOyBDvnRnIGDiVjDPNSY7qOqX9HOi3MfMZr5vqzocYk_y58eCw/pic23-MBR%20switch.png

This is a 11.2 slideshow so you get an idea what to expect
11.2 Slideshow Images - Windows Live

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Having Windows on 1 HD and Linux on another one is the simplest scenario. It doesn’t matter in which order you install the OS. However if you don’t want to switch the boot order in the BIOS every time before booting, you need a bootmanager in the first HD. Here’s what I would do:

  • Make Windows HD the second one in the BIOS
  • Don’t put ANY primary FAT or NTFS primary partition on the first HD
    (the one your’re going to use for Linux)
  • Install Windows on the “seconde” HD
  • Install Linux in the first HD (you’ll create the partitions you need during setup).
  • Wether you install Grub in MBR or in the root partition doesn’t matter in this case. While booting You will be given the choice between Linux and Windows.
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Hi i installed vista on the 2nd HDD and then installed suse on the 1st . But when i try to boot to suse i got a n screen that says something like suse and fail(??? something) and goes to a blank(black) screen whenever i select either of them. I did try to install Ubuntu as well on the 1st HDD and the same thing happens, get to the boot screen > select the OS(ubuntu and tried with suse) and it just goes blank. No error messages.

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Unfortunately we can’t do this for you. It’s something you are going to have to learn. It will work if you do it correctly.

Tell you what. Shutdown.

Pull the power on the SUSE HD and reboot the PC. Does windows vista start?
When we have that working. Shutdown and pull the power on that drive and re-connect the SUSE HD. Now re-install SUSE until you have it working and updated.

Then come back here.

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Hi, i’ve just tried that. Windows booted fine and suse seemed to install correctly except when it had finished and tried to reboot the screen went blank and nothing happened. When i restarted the machine with just one hdd (suse) it loaded fine i selected opensuse etc and loads of text appears and then the screen just goes blank again. I think it’s probably a driver issue i’ve got a ATI Radeon 4730.

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openSUSE Graphic Card Practical Theory Guide for Users - openSUSE Forums