Hello people. I know this may sound pathetic but i need help. Im currently using XP and well, i hate it. Ive been planning to switch to linux for a long time now but i couldnt find the right distro till i came across OpenSuse 11.1.
I like the whole pack and ive dowloaded the DVD image (from a friend’s house).
I need help in:
1.) Reformatting my partitioned hard drive and making it good for the suse installation.
2.) My computer doesnt have a dvd-rom (busted) but i do have a 8 gig pen drive. I was wondering if i can boot the dvd iso from there.
3.) Im using dial-up connection in a 3rd world country so i cant download stuff.
4.) Is there a database out there to make windows inclined people learn linux from the basics to the more advanced stuff like bash and ppp etc.
I know this sounds lazy and maybe this will be locked because there maybe many threads about this but i dont have the time to surf. I apologize for the inconvenience this post may cause. PLEASE HELP ME. Im really excited in switching to OpenSuse. 
Also, Im running on Intel Celeron D with 512 MB ram. And NVIDIA 100/200 video.
Will this be enough to run opensuse 11.1 comfortably?
Thank You.
I had luck getting the DVD to install via USB by following the instructions here
EeeUser ASUS Eee PC Forum / openSUSE onto SDHC without CD drive -> STUCK!
Then, sadly, it stopped working for me. There are other ways, but I haven’t made it work recently.
More recently I made the KDE live CD image boot from USB by using unetbootin on Windows XP to install it to the USB, then deleting the config.isoclient file in the root directory of the USB, and replacing it with the config.kde.isoclient. (I.e. copying this file and renaming it config.isoclient. Apparently it will work with the gnome version using the config.gnome.isoclient as well)
Got these instructions here
How to Make openSUSE 11.1 LiveUSB | Spirit of Change
Once the usb is booted, you can simply delete all the partitions already there, and start again from scratch - no need to format specially.
Good luck.
Thanks a lot for the fast response!
The problem with this is that it needs you to have linux to execute the steps right? Im only running on windows as of the moment.
But it really helped a lot.
Am trying to install into some old pcs at moment, as a NON-Tech would find it easier if INSTALL had an option could select to:
(1) DELETE ALL existing partitions,
(2) REFORMAT to best format the HD,
(3) create three partitions: OS, HOME, and SWAP to best available sizes.
An indication of how much space OS needs have, how much SWAP should have, the rest fine for HOME 
paul
.
You can delete all the partitions - when you get to the partitioner set up, just choose ‘edit partitions’ and delete them all.
Recreate them as you will, and there’s no need to format - destroying a partition necessarily destroys the data on it (well, except on a forensic level).
The partitioner will suggest a scheme to you in the right circumstances, but it’s no bother doing it manually. Estimates vary, but as a rough guide 1 or 2 times the amount of RAM you have as swap, between 7 and 20 gigs for / (closer to 20 or 25 if you can afford it), and the rest for /home will be fine.
ok, after scouring the net for an hour or two, i came upon an article that says i can install OpenSuse 11.1 directly from my windows xp using instlux. Is this possible?
Here’s the link:
OpenSUSE 11.1 Start-Up - Choosing the Installation Method
Sounds a load of rubbish that instlux.
I understand some have run the installer on the DVD from windows. I have never done it myself.
You would need to install daemon tools to create virtual cd/dvd drives and mount your .iso
Download DAEMON Tools Lite 4.30.3 - FileHippo.com
But I’m NOT sure this would work!!
It’s no rubbish. If the DVD is inserted whilst running XP or Vista, it can prepare the system for starting the install after a reboot. That’s what it does. This way users don’t have to set a boot device priority in the BIOS, which is certainly good for new users.
What you need, is the USB-stick to take the place of the DVD and install on the HDD. To do this you’d make the USB-stick bootable, create a bootdisk partition (described at opensuse.org), and a partition containing the contents of the dvd in a folder /11.1. Then boot from the stick and point it to install from HDD, leave disk empty but fill in folder /11.1
Sould work