I am trying to install Suse 9.3 Pro from the DVD included in Linux Magazine #59. I have a system with a USB DVD drive, however, it seems impossible to boot from the DVD.
When I installed Fedora Core 4 last month with the DVD from LM #58, I first burned an installation boot CD from an .iso file in the DVD /boot directory. This allowed me to complete the installation of FC4 without any problem!
I have previously used the same technique with Debian, but for SuSE, I could not find any .iso file to burn a boot CD to start the installation.
Is there a solution?
Geert van Pamel, by email
| LM |
Yes, there is. Suse also provides some mini .iso files for starting the installation process. You can find the files at: ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/9.3/boot/boot.iso
If you have installed Suse Linux already, there is also another - very tricky - way to install without a CD:
Start the installed system and copy the files linux and initrd from the /boot/loader directory on the DVD/CD into your existing /boot directory. (Do not overwrite existing files!)
Then edit your /boot/grub/menu.lst file to start this system. After rebooting, you will get the blue install screen. Press Back and you can then start a manual installation.
I like Linux; it's matured a lot over the last few years and has become a very usable platform, but I'm sitting here writing this letter on an XP machine. Why? Because very few games titles are released to run under Linux, and unless I'm missing something (and please, please tell me that I am), then I am stuck with Windows. I know Linux isn't associated with games, but let's face it, if there were commercial games for Linux would you buy them? I certainly would, if they were up to scratch.
The reason why I am bothering to look at alternatives to Windows is the impending farce that is Windows Vista and its `DRM' functionality. I like my computing experience to have a degree of openness about it, and I accept that, because of this, there is the need to periodically install patches to fix things which weren't quite right. If everything becomes bolted down, however, because some fat record company executive says so, I might as well get a Playstation.
So if anyone knows how I could play games on Linux, I would be very grateful; and secondly, if any developers (please be reading this Egosoft) decide to test the Linux market, I'm sure the results would be pleasing.
Cheers, and thanks for listening to the rants and raves of someone who remembers when great computers used a tape recorder to load games.
Shaun Pugh, by email
| LM |
We certainly support your call for game vendors to take more interest in Linux. Of course, many great games are available now in Linux, and many more are written or ported to Linux every day, but we agree that there is great disparity in the amount of attention Linux receives from commercial game vendors compared to the attention given to other systems.
If you're interested in Linux game support, try the Linux Gamers website http://www.linux-gamers.net/. The site provides news and information on Linux games and game ports.
You don't mention what kind of games you like, but the plea to Egosoft is a good hint. You might be interested to know that Linux Game Publishing http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com/ is currently beta testing a Linux version of Egosoft's X2: The Threat. They have announced a release date of November 1, 2005, so the game could be available by the time this issue is on the newsstands.
By the way, www.linux-gamers.net is sponsoring a petition to Egosoft requesting a Linux port of the upcoming Egosoft game X3: Reunion. You'll find the petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/ego42/petition.html