Suse Linux 9.3 install has no swap file? Machine is dog slow...no resources available?

[MichaelD]

I hate Linux.

I just realized that I'm using the "LiveDVD" version...it's like a trial version that boots from/to the DVD and it isn't really installed...or something like that. There's another .tar file on the DVD that I think I'll burn and try installing from.

How to use the SUSE LINUX Professional 9.3 Live version:
1) Download the ISO files from the specified Internet address and save
it on your hard disk. For this you will need about 1.5 GB for the DVD.
2) Use a burning application of your choice to burn the ISO file to a
blank DVD. Select the option that allows burning a DVD-ROM image and/or
a ISO9660 filesystem.
3) Insert the DVD in your DVD drive and reboot the machine. In contrast
to a system installed on the hard disk, the live version consumes a lot
of memory. Therefore, at least 384 MB RAM are needed for the smooth
operation of the Live DVD.
4) SUSE LINUX Professional 9.3 will boot directly from the live DVD
without modifying your hard disk. You can type "F4" function at the
boot prompt to change the language, the current setting is displayed
next to the "F4" at the bottom line (default is English).
5) The default user is called "linux" and has no password (NIS users
may work also). Please choose the desktop you want to run under and
login as this user.
6) Test your new SUSE LINUX Professional 9.3 and take a look at the
office, e-mail, Internet, photograph management, and other
applications. Use a device such as a memory stick for saving files.
7) Impressed? Then visit http://www.novell.com/suselinux and order your
full version with detailed documentation and free installation support.
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It helps to RTFM, I guess. 😱
Thanks though.

_____________________________________________________________________
I'm trying to learn the Linux OS for the 100th time...I'm a slow learner. :roll:

The machine is a bit underspec'd; 800MHz P3, 384MB ram, GF2 videocard, 40GB HD, DVD Rom. Hey, it runs.

I completely wiped the HD using Maxtor's low-level utility.

When I put the Linux DVD in, it autoruns and does not give me any options to partition or anything. It just installs.

When I go into the YAST Expert Partitioner utility, I see two partitions:

/dev/cloop0 2.9GB
/dev/hda 38.1GB

When I go check memory/system resources, it says 99% of my memory is in use and Swap Space in unavailable.

I thought that Linux automagically created a swap file?

Can I create one to speed things up? Can someone walk me thru it, please?

Thanks.

 

[bersl2]

I'm not in a walkthrough mood at the moment, but I would like to point out to you that one of those mounts is encrypted. If this was unexpected, it means you may have selected (or have had selected for you) options that are currently beyond your understanding. You might want to reinstall to see if you can get a more basic setup.

 

[MichaelD]

Well, OK. This is the third time I've reinstalled.

To make things worse, I just found out that I can't boot from the HD. 😕 Don't get that at all.

If I boot to the HD, it just hangs.
If I boot to the DVD and select "Boot from HD" as the boot option, it says "Cannot boot from HD."

Is this HD shot? It passed all the Maxtor tests.