[Discussion] [Linux] Starting the move to MAC

[Jon]

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:08:05 -0400 (EDT), Carl Gehr wrote:

>[Ubuntu is what I've started playing with. At
>this point, I don't even know enough to be dangerous, though.]

Carl:

I tried Ubuntu a few years ago.  I suppose it is better now than then.  The problem I had and I've 
read of others having is that the standard installation CD puts the boot loader in the MBR.  If you  
are not aware of this prior to the install you will find that it wipes whatever else you have on 
the drive.  There is a different install CD available for Ubuntu, the Alternate Install CD, which 
will allow you to put the boot loader in the linux partition.  This is the one to use if you are 
installing on a drive that contains another OS.

Other distro's have a choice at install for 'advanced install' where you can select to install the 
boot loader in the linux partition.  But for Ubuntu you need the Alternate CD.

I see that you are using a flash drive so the above doesn't matter but if you decide to install it 
on a hard drive containing another OS then you should be aware of the above.  If you use IBM's boot 
manager you can have your linux distro on the boot menu (or you can have your other OS as a 
selection on the linux boot manager).  

HPFS is included in the openSuse kernel.  Also, openSuse provides more runlevels than Ubuntu.

Good luck,
jon