I am currently using vista 32 bit + opensuse 11.0 x64
Major changes I have made to my system -
Installed nvidia drivers with kernel update
Updated KDE to 4.1.3
installed compiz fusion
What I am asking is as 11.1 will come out, can I update my 11.0 through Yast? Is it safe for my current settings or I will lost all customized settings?
Another question.
If I want to uninstall suse 11.0 right now (I am not going to, just a question), how it can be done?
I think if I format my linux partitions from somebody else’s comp, I will lost my boot loader(grub).
What is the proper way to uninstall suse in such case so that I can load vista’s boot loader next time I boot?
Update is best done with a dvd of the new OS
Keep your /home partition and reinstall the rest.
To delete suse. If grub in on the MBR, you just delete the linux partitons with a suitable partitioner cd or from Vista I think.You can then expand vista in to the free space.
Grub will work but only to boot Vista. And even if it doesn’t you can use the vista recovery disk to repair the vista bootloader
If grub has been installed to the MBR the standard way, it will have a pointer to its boot manager located in the openSUSE root partition. Re-format or delete that partition, and grub in the MBR will fail. So if that is the current setup, you would need to have the Vista Recovery Environment to restore the Vista MBR. Or, before removing the linux OS, download/run free FixMbr which can do the same, but it of course must be down while Vista is still accessible.
As far as updating, while that can be done via YaST (and I’ve done it countless times that way), for most users it’s better to use the DVD because of the new kernel. When the DVD boots and recognizes the hardware OK, the new kernel is indirectly verified. Whereas with a YaST upgrade you won’t know if there is a problem until you reboot; unlikely, but it can happen.
I just tried it in a VM.
I disabled all the 11.0 repo’s
Added oss, non-oss, updates from 11.1
The a system wide update all unconditionally.
Then zypper dup
Corrected one or two conflicts. that was it. Several GB, so it’s a bit of a wait, go make a coffee.
I don’t normally do it this way, and it was only a VM. And I would wait for others to comment on the method Best used.
I prefer a full re-install, just keep /home.
You could probably speed things up by only pointing the the dvd , or better yet the ISO (presuming you have it stored locally).
Also are you doing this in a console in X, or at runlevel 3?
As I’ve read, the biggest issues don’t come from updating the openSUSE 11.0 to 11.1 packages… but come from other packages you might have installed via one-click, the build service… all those things not ’ pure ’ to openSUSE.
One thing that keeps me from upgrading (with any OS) is the clutter you’re system will get over time…
I disabled all the 11.0 repo’s
Added oss, non-oss, updates from 11.1
I didn’t download the dvd at all, just put the OS repo’s for 11.1 in to the 11.0 install
system wide update via Yast from the running desktop
then reboot to level 3 and zypper dup
done.
Thing is I only used this VM to mess with and had only added kde4.2 beta unstable repo prior to the update to 11.1
I don’t think I would dare try this method on my main machines.
As I’ve read, the biggest issues don’t come from updating the openSUSE 11.0 to 11.1 packages… but come from other packages you might have installed via one-click, the build service… all those things not ’ pure ’ to openSUSE.
This is true, it’s just knowing what to do when the installer throws a wobbly and spits out all manner of conflicts. Not for the faint hearted or NOOBS