When installing from a KDE or GNOME Live CD, you can also create a “Live USB stick”
to boot from. Refer to http://en.opensuse.org/Live_USB_stick for detailed instruc-
tions.
9.2.4 Booting from Installation Media Fails
One reason why a machine does not boot the installation media can be an incorrect
boot sequence setting in BIOS. The BIOS boot sequence must have DVD drive set as
the rst entry for booting. Otherwise the machine would try to boot from another
medium, typically the hard disk. Guidance for changing the BIOS boot sequence can
be found the documentation provided with your motherboard, or in the following
paragraphs.
The BIOS is the software that enables the very basic functions of a computer. Moth-
erboard vendors provide a BIOS specically made for their hardware. Normally, the
BIOS setup can only be accessed at a specic time—when the machine is booting.
During this initialization phase, the machine performs a number of diagnostic hard-
ware tests. One of them is a memory check, indicated by a memory counter. When
the counter appears, look for a line, usually below the counter or somewhere at the
bottom, mentioning the key to press to access the BIOS setup. Usually the key to
press is one of [Del], [F1], or [Esc]. Press this key until the BIOS setup screen appears.
Procedure 9.1 Changing the BIOS Boot Sequence
1 Enter the BIOS using the proper key as announced by the boot routines and
wait for the BIOS screen to appear.
2 To change the boot sequence in an AWARD BIOS, look for the BIOS FEATURES
SETUP entry. Other manufacturers may have a dierent name for this, such
as ADVANCED CMOS SETUP. When you have found the entry, select it and
conrm with [Enter].
3 In the screen that opens, look for a subentry called BOOT SEQUENCE or BOOT
ORDER. The boot sequence looks something like C,A or A,C. In the former
case, the machine rst searches the hard disk (C) then the oppy drive (A) to
nd a bootable medium. Change the settings by pressing [PgUp] or [PgDown]
until the sequence is A,CDROM,C.
4 Leave the BIOS setup screen by pressing [Esc]. To save the changes, select
SAVE & EXIT SETUP, or press [F10]. To conrm that your settings should be
saved, press [Y].
Procedure 9.2 Changing the Boot Sequence in a SCSI BIOS (Adaptec Host Adapter)
1 Open the setup by pressing [Ctrl] + [A].
2 Select Disk Utilities. The connected hardware components are now displayed.
Make note of the SCSI ID of your DVD drive.
Common Problems and Their Solutions 133
