Hi all:

Ok.. so, I am familiar with Linux and Windows, and I've created a dual
boot system before, wit hRedHat and Windows 2000. Now, I've ordered
a new system for home use, and I want to have Windows XP
and SuSe 9.1 Prof. on the same machine. The machine is a Dell, and it will
come with Windows XP eating the entire big hard drive.

right now I have the option to either :
a) repartition the Windows hard drive to accomodate Suse on it,
or
b) get a second hard drive to dedicate to Linux and leave the Windows
one alone.

My question (finally!) is, which would you prefer to do - and why?

I'd say, if you need the space for Windows, just leave it alone and get the new drive if its no problem attaining.. but its really a matter of your own preference.

I'd put them both on the same drive and use the other drive for storage. I'm pretty sure when using two different boot drives that you have to do some extra configuring of grub or lilo.

If this is not a question of money, buy a second HDD, so you will not run into trouble with SuSE9.1's parted problem (it creates a bad partition table after resize, so Windows won't boot). You could also buy 9.2, where this bug has been removed or use the workaround/fix that SuSE offers.

Personally, I would prefer version a) and have a second HDD as storage device, like Mystypiy suggested before.

.. Yeah, I am inclined to go with the dual booted hard drive; as I have done it before, and I found it easy
(more or less). I'm just nervous about the SuSe 9.1 issue with parted (and I am not planning to go to 9.2).
However, SuSE does have a patch of some sort on their web pages, where you make a CD or floppy that 'fixes'
parted, I believe, is how it works; and you can do that *before* seeing if Parted messes up your Windows partition.
Has anyone used that fix??

I suppose, given it will be a 'clean slate' Windows machine when I get it, and Dell is supposed to include
the Windows installation CD, it isn' t the end of the world if I wipe out the hard drive.. I don't need all
the Windows extras, anyhow - it's my GPS mapping software and MP3 player I need Windows for!
(oh and the work stuff, like AutoCad) But it would be nice to avoid the hassle.

thanks again!