Hello,
I am current running Windows Home Edition on Dell Inspiron 5100.

I am new to Linux, and would love to have Suse 10.0 installed on an external USB hard disk. This is what I like to have:

1) When my external hard disk is not attached to the laptop, Windows should work fine just as it is working now prior to Linux.

2) When my external hard disk is attached and with BIOS settings set to boot from USB, Suse 10.0 starts up without any intervention from windows.

I am not sure on how to go about in achieveing this? Your help will really be appreciated.

First you need to set up your boot order so that it starts with USB. Do you know how to do that? I could look up your machine specs and all but I'd rather you just tell me you can figure it out.

Second is as simple as install SuSE on that ext. HD. You would have to change the default installation settings for partitions in the setup. Do you know how to do that?

I cannot think of anything else.

I would definately think it best to try and get a gig on the laptop's regular HD for the swap partition too.

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I know how to change my boot order. On my inspiron 5100, i have usb hdd listed.

I have't yet installed Suse on my external hard disk because I am afraid of losing windows on my internal hard disk. Correct me, if I am wrong here.

1) Put Suse cd in my drive and boot it from cd.

2) What if suse cannot detect my usb drive? what do i do then?

2) Assuming suse detects my external hard disk, install it on the external hard drive and install grub also on the mbr of the external hard disk.

4) reboot my machine from the external hard disk. And Suse should start up??

Now when I detach my external hard disk, I dont want grub to show up, and want Windows to load up just as it is doing now. Will the above steps help me to achieve this?

I only want Suse to come in the picture, if i have my external hard disk attached to the computer.

thanks a lot again for your help. really appreciate this.

I have been reading a lot about the expert mode during Suse installation? How can i log on to the expert mode?

1)I am really not comfertable with the default installation settings during setup. I will appreciate if you can shed some light in here.

2) Do I need to create a swap on my regular internal drive? Or can i do this on my external? I dont want to disturb my internal hard disk.

again thanks a lot.