I Screwed Things Up... How To Fix?

Hey everyone. I know next to nothing about Linux (or computers in general, really) and I tried installing openSUSE 10.3 on a laptop (HP tx2000) but failed.

Here's what i did:

-Burnt a CD
-Installed using all the defaults (didnt know what I was doing)
-The GUI wouldn't load because of a hardware error, or so it said.
-I decided to screw it and deleted the partitions that opensuse created to get back my GBs to Vista until I was really ready to install linux (suicide here)
-GRUB Error 22 appeared every time I tried to start it.
-I panicked until 2 AM.
-Tried reinstalling openSUSE
-OpenSUSE was reinstalled after 3 tries. Same hardware error and no GUI, but at least it worked again (vista too)


And NOW everything is working, but I'd like to get the not working openSUSE off of my comp to free up gigs.

Right now, the partitions in my HD are as follows, read on Vista disk management:



Half the stuff isnt labeled so I dont know what it is, and since they dont have any file system the only option Vista gives me is to delete them. I can't expand or shrink um.




Would my best bet be burning the HP recovery DVD and starting anew? Or did my "installation mess us my BIOS/flash or whatever to the point that it can't start without openSUSE installed?


Thanks in advance, any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
eyebrow

Or did my "installation mess us my BIOS/flash or whatever to the point that it can't start without openSUSE installed?[/b]

Can answer that by first asking you: does vista boot up with vist'a boot screen or by going to the Suse (green) boot screen first?

Swerdna

It goes to the SuSE screen first :/

Been there done that, deleting the partions via xp totally messed my system up and not something I would recommend but maybe others have had more luck.

I would think that the 4 none labeled partitions are from linux, 2GB being the swap, 20GB the root and 98GB being home. Not sure what the 2nd 2GB is, maybe this one appeared because of the 2nd/3rd install. (boot suse prompt and do a df -k might also releave some more)

Another option you could do instead of removing it would be to leave it as it is and instead you simply spend some time on that hardware error. You have a working Vista laptop so your not stranded, You have 57GB free on vista so no issues there soon. Post the info on the hardware error and some smart person here might be able to help and you end up with a working Vista/Suse laptop ?

I will take of a pic of the details that describe the error right before it force reboots (it only shows for 2 secs or so) and will type post it here tomorrow then.

Maybe the hardware error was just a small mistake in the installation options... And maybe someone who knows what they're doing can help me fix it.

Thank ye!

It goes to the SuSE screen first :/
[/b]

If you remove the Linux partitions (using vista) before reinstating the vista bootloader, you will lose ability to boot because the Grub code in the Master Boot Record directs to look at the root partition of the Suse install. If it has been deleted you get a Grub error 22 (menas missing partition). So reinstate vista bootloader first. Try booting off the vista dvd and select to automatically repair. That should identify what vista would see as a broken code in the Master Boot Record and fix it to boot direct to vista. Then use vista's partitioner to delete those non-windows partitions so you can use them in vista by either expanding a vista partition or making new vista partitions.

Swerdna

Gotta get some blank DVDs to burn the vista dvd to first haha (it's in that HP_Recovery Partition I believe) This thing didn't come with an actual Vista CD :/


For now I will try to fix the hardware error, but if that plan fails I'll be sure to try what you said.

Thanks,
eyebrow

Gotta get some blank DVDs to burn the vista dvd to first haha (it's in that HP_Recovery Partition I believe) This thing didn't come with an actual Vista CD :/
For now I will try to fix the hardware error, but if that plan fails I'll be sure to try what you said.

Thanks,
eyebrow
[/b]

If you tell us what it says in your console about the hardware error we might be able to help. Or is it that you just end up with a typewriter-style console asking you to login? Or describe what state it stops in when you boot.

Swerdna

Ok, the harware error is this:

HARDWARE ERROR
CPU 0: Machine Check Exception: 4 Bank 4: b200000000070f0f
TSC f888e2c11


when I press esc to view the details while normal openSUSE 10.3 is loading.

In fail-safe mode, I end up with the console asking me to log in. I do so, and it says something along the lines of: "Have a great time...".


It stops when the GUI loader is about 1/5 through, when the harware error comes up under details.

The failsafe mode is apparently bypassing the hardware configuration that is causing the stress. This link Wikipedia explains the error. Look particularly at the bit on the diagnostic programmes mcelog and parsemce. There may be hope there.

Hopefully more advice coming because I'm not much help on this one.

Swerdna