Error when installing Open SUSE 11.1

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello!

I have an old computer with Windows XP Home installed. I am unable to log in to windows because it will not detect my keyboard, so I decided to try Open SUSE! I am posting this from the Live CD, and I clicked on the Install icon to install Open SUSE onto my computer, but when I did so, I got an error message. Here are the details:

Error - KDE su

Su returned with an error.

I get the same error each time I try to install.

I first started out using a Live CD with GNOME, but I also got an error when attempting to install. How can I fix this? I’ve checked the disk using media check.

Also, I cannot get into Windows to defrag my hard drive. Will this cause problems for an install?

2

Defragging the disk under Windows helps only if You want to make operations like resizing it to fit the openSUSE there. How did You check the disk? I’m not sure if that media check in YaST is the way to go via the Live CD. First confirm that the iso file You downloaded is fine, then check the media.

3

How much RAM does this machine have?

4

I did a md5 check from Windows using DigestIT and both the GNOME and KDE4 iso files were valid. I checked the disk from the live cd. I booted from the disk, and chose check media from the options. Then, I rebooted and chose Live CD and tried to install and got the error.

As far as the RAM…I believe it has 756mb.

5

Hmmm, i have never encountered such problems using the Live CD, could You type in konsole whoami and post the output here?

6

How come you can’t use your keyboard? Is this a new development or just that you have knocked a few bits together to get his old pc going and it doesn’t like the keyboard?
Don’t you have access to another keyboard? I have had XP on rare occasion have issue with some usb keyboards, but I’m wondering if you have a BIOS setting which might affect this? If it is usb, try all the usb ports.

Defrag is certainly a very good idea, before installing openSUSE.

As Bender said, this is rather odd issue. You could try this. When you boot the suse cd, stop the timer by moving the down arrow. Highlight the live boot and press backspace, this will delete all kernel arguments. Now just type the number: 3
Now hit enter

When you arrive at the login type:
root
Hit enter a couple of times

Now type:
init 5
Hit enter

Now type
startx
Hit enter

Now try the installer

7

I have tried all usb hubs and multiple keyboards. I followed your instructions and successfully installed OpenSUSE! Thanks for all of your help! Now that I am a user, perhaps I’ll be able to contribute to OpenSUSE…I am a fast learner :slight_smile:

8

Excellent.
Keep a regular appearance here in the forum and you will learn a great deal.

If you are using kde4, eventually you might want to improve on what you currently have.
Certainly I suggest you run updates from a su terminal do:

zypper ref

zypper up

or just go to Yast - Online Update

when done you will need to reboot if you have not already updated before this, as there are kernel updates as well as patches you need.

For video etc check this:
Multi-media and Restricted Format Installation Guide - openSUSE Forums