Now it's even easier. No matter which version of Windows runs on your system - 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP - you can install SuSE Linux 8.1 next to it. During the installation, SuSE Linux assists you in preparing free space on the partition containing Windows 95, 98, or ME for your new Linux with a few mouse clicks. If you have installed NT, 2000, or XP with a FAT file system, the adaption of these Windows versions during the installation is equally simple and quick.

Your Windows partition contains data you would like to process in Linux? No problem: Linux can read the data of all Windows systems. On FAT partitions, Linux can even write data without any risk, i.e. the Windows partition can be used to store the data you have processed in Linux. No matter whether you want to process image, text, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, the applications in Linux can read many formats of the Windows world. For example, "OpenOffice.org" can be used to import and open the files of various office programs. You can even save your files in the MS Office formats. Accessing Windows directories is as simple as accessing a floppy disk or CD-ROM. Access to your Windows data is provided by means of an icon.

"wine" allows you to run various Windows programs in Linux. When started for the first time, wine creates a "fakewindows" directory in the home directory of the user. Using wine, you can install and utilize many of your favorite programs, even if you do not have a "real" Windows on your hard disk. However, as this does not work with all programs, the possibility to utilize these programs should be a pleasant surprise rather than an indispensable need.
www.winehq.org