Thinkpads Forum

I want to install SUSE Linux 10 on my laptop but I still want to keep my Window XP and my IBM Access IM button working. How could I do?

I want to use SUSE Linux on my IBM ThinkPad T43 but I am not sure how to install it without affecting my IBM Predesktop Area.
I have heard that if we install Linux on IBM ThinkPad carelessly, it will affect our IBM Predesktop Area. Therefore, we can no longer boot from this
partition by hitting "Access IBM" button when booting our laptop. How can I prevent this problem?

I have read in many articles. They recommended to not install the GRUB of the Linux on MBR but install it into the boot sector of the boot partition and
leave the MBR alone. Moreover, before installing Linux, we have to set the BIOS for IBM Predesktop setting from "default " to "secure". Is this the point?
Is anybody has both Linux and Windows XP on the same hard drive while the IBM Predesktop Area still working properly?
If yes, could you please teach me how to install Linux step by step?

Thank you so much : )

I don't own a ThinkPad yet, so I am not sure of the need for changing the BIOS for IBM Predesktop setting from "default " to "secure". Though it doesn't sound like it will hurt.

The point is what you've already stated, if you don't want to mess up your current MBR (where this IBM Predesktop thing is configured to start when your access IBM button is pressed), you just install GRUB (one of GNU/Linux's boot loaders) on the first sector of the boot partition.

Either way, before you begin, make recovery discs (which can restore everything to its original state, including the Predesktop things if things go wrong) and make a backup of all your data before you start.

Since I am assuming you currently have XP's NT partition occupying (almost) your entire hard drive (other than the few gigs allocated for IBM's recovery things), your first step is to resize your NTFS partition to make space for your new SUSE Linux installation.

To do this, defrag (maybe more than once if you're paranoid), then pop your setup disc in, and when you reach a step which involves selecting partitions, resize your NTFS partition[1] freeing up how many ever gigabytes you want for SUSE. Then proceed to install SUSE in that space, while installing GRUB only in the first sector of the boot partition.

I know I am being vague, and this is not step-by-step at all, and just an overview of the initial steps. But if you understand what's going on, feel brave enough to try it and need more information, feel free to ask!

[1] I have not used SUSE, but this page makes me confident that SUSE 10's install disc can (non-destructively) resize NTFS partitions.

And I forgot to mention. You probably know this, but an excellent and comprehensive resource for Linux on ThinkPads is ThinkWiki.

Find your ThinkPad on there, and even if there aren't instructions specifically for SUSE, the general installation tips and hardware (specific to your ThinkPad) caveats will apply across distributions.