Why won't my Linux install initialize?

[IgoByte]

Hi all,

I have SUSE linux 7.3 and am for the first time attempting to install it on a system.
The system I'm trying to get it installed on is new but very basic in configuration:

- ASUS P4S333 mobo
- P4 1.6A @ 1.6ghz for this
- 256MB PC2100 Crucial DDR SDRAM
- 40GB Maxtor ATA133/7200RPM HDD
- Visiontek Xtasy 5632 GF2 GTS 32MB
- 40x CD-Rom drive / Floppy drive
- Netgear 10/100 NIC

I currently have three partitions on the HDD:
1. OS - 9.32GB
2. Program Files - 9.32GB
3. Storage Volume - 10.00GB
all three are NTFS
running Windows XP Pro

as well as 8.65GB of free space, which I left for Linux.

I am trying to install from the first CD driectly, and the setup program starts, but after the "countdown" only gives me a blank, dark grey screen.

This may be very simple, and frankly I hope it is, but can you folks please help a total linux newbie out and not flame me for making some stupid mistake?

 

[FUBAR]

Do you get any error messages before or after the "countdown"

Have you tried to do a text mode install?

 

[Elledan]

Try using YAST 1 instead of 2. Works fine on all the systems I've tried it on.

 

[IgoByte]

Just resolved it using the safe mode option. I'm not sure if that was it or if it was the fact that I formatted that empty space I had on the HDD. I formatted it as FAT32. Can Linux work on NTFS?

 

[FUBAR]

linux can read ntfs if the kernel was compiled properly. I think most distro's can do it by default, but I could be wrong there... never tried it.

You need to have a different type of fs for linux to run on tho. I believe mandrake stll uses ext2 while the newer redhats come with ext3 built in. Of course if you're adventureous there are a lot of others out there too, but ntfs is read only.