hi all ! I'm thinking - would it be possible to install openSUSE on NTFS partition, to prevent repartitioning, so more Windows users will be able to try out SUSE Linux ?
Currently we install (via instlux) the GRUB bootloader, which is loaded from NTLDR, which then starts Linux kernel, then it opens up basic setup routine, that starts Yast... and setups Linux normally, on ext3 partition... Maybe.. just maybe... there is another way to make it ? Provided, we now have NTFS-3G officially included in the distro (I saw RPM in factory), completely new capabilities show up. I propose setup like this: 1. Install GRUB (as non-default bootloader), like Instlux does 2. modify NTLDR to start GRUB from it, like Instlux does ---here the similarities with Instlux end--- 3. Install openSUSE right from Windows --- build a Windows setup than installs openSUSE RPMs right into local NTFS - this theoretically could be done via cygwin's RPM. Simple setup program can install enough RPMs to make it for a basic GNOME or KDE system. Of course the setup program cannot be as complex as Yast, but rather it will be very simple, not allowing for package customization during install stage, and not allowing for much tuning during the setup. The idea is to override standard Yast setup procedure, and setup the whole thing while running Windows kernel. 4. modify SUSE init/initrd (and kernel?) to support booting from NTFS-3G driver. 5. The custom GRUB can start such a custom distro (kernel+init). 6. Instead of using swap partition, this system could use swap file, mounted on NTFS/FAT partition. 7. end-user will just reboot, and find a new OS in his NTLDR bootloader. The primary advantage to this technology is no need to repartition a hard drive at all. A very welcome feature to win-noobs alike. -- -Alexey Eremenko "Technologov" -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
