Well, I would like to install OpenSuSE 11 because it simply won me over and the package management system is just completely awesome! [Thanks Alessandro17!]

Anyway, going on I would like to install Linux without installing LiLO or GRUB over Vista's BCD. Repartitioning is not an issue simply because of the new disk management in Vista. How would I go about doing this? Do I make the target partition active and then go and install with everything and make a new BCD record or something else.

Thanks!

You don't need a primary, let alone an active partition to install Linux. You just need some free space (and two logical partitions, one for root (/) and one swap) But if YaST finds free space it will know what to do.
In fact YaST can even resize Windows partitions, but that is something I have never tried.

As to LILO or GRUB, you can install the latter to the root partition, rather than to the MBR.
This way it won't touch the Vista BCD.
How to boot openSUSE? My favorite method is to install Acronis OS Selector:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/produ...ltibooting.html

Or maybe try BootIt NG. It is shareware, but I believe it doesn't expire:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

I know about the partitioning with root and swap, done it too many times

I'd like to completely preserve the BCD and hook Linux from there. I'll see what I can do, thanks Alessandro

OK, you are welcome

You could also install the Grub Bootloader to a Floppy Disk (yes, I know old technology, but I still love my floppies) or a small USB Flash Drive.

Good Luck