Error Loading Operating System after 11.3 fresh install

[echoes-]

can anyone help me troubleshoot this please?

i used the default partitioning setup with a kde4 live usb stick (x86_64) (because i couldn't get the dvd to burn properly/match checksum) with swap, / & home as ext4. single IDE/PATA HDD.
i did not install grub to the MBR.

[caf4926]

Are there other OS's on here?

Boot the USB stick again to the live desktop
Open a terminal become su and do

fdisk -l

post result

[echoes-]

sorry, i should have mentioned both of those things but i forgot.

there are no other OSes.

here is the fdisk output:
Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa730e7dd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 262 2103296 82 Linux swap / Solaris
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 * 262 2127 14972928 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 2127 4866 22004736 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdc: 1027 MB, 1027604480 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 980 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 2048 * 512 = 1048576 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x86304a82

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 695 711680 17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc2 696 980 291840 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdc1: 728 MB, 728760320 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 695 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 2048 * 512 = 1048576 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x86304a82

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1p1 * 1 695 711680 17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc1p2 696 980 291840 83 Linux

i'm thinking it could also be a grub problem, so here is my grub menu:
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Jul 17 14:48:56 PDT 2010
# THIS FILE WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERWRITTEN by perl-Bootloader
# Configure custom boot parameters for updated kernels in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader

default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.3
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-12-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST340015A_5LAGKSEC-part2 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST340015A_5LAGKSEC-part1 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.34-12-desktop

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: Linux other###
title Linux other
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
rootnoverify (fd0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.3
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-12-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST340015A_5LAGKSEC-part2 showopts apm=off noresume edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 nomodeset x11failsafe vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.34-12-desktop

device map:
(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd0) /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST340015A_5LAGKSEC
(hd1) /dev/disk/by-id/usb-PNY_USB_2.0_FD_6E54060019A7-0:0

grub.conf:
setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 --force-lba (hd0,1) (hd0,1)
quit

[caf4926]

Try re-installing grub.
Whilst booted with the USB drive - open a terminal and become su, and follow this

You enter this ---------------- grub

Computer returns like this ---- grub>

You enter this ---------------- find /boot/grub/menu.lst

Computer returns like this ---- (hd0,1)

Here, (hd0,1) is Grub's pointer to my openSUSE installation. Your pointer should be the same, I edited this example to (hd0,1).

You enter this ---------------- root (hd0,1)

Computer returns like this ---- Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

You enter this ---------------- setup (hd0)

You see several lines like this --- Checking if /boot/grub/stage1 exists ... yes Computer finally returns this-- Succeeded.......Done

You enter this ---------------- quit

You enter this ---------------- reboot

[echoes-]

i was right that it was a grub problem. your suggestion of reinstalling grub worked! thanks!

is there a way to mark a topic as solved now?

[caf4926]

No we don't have a solved thingamajig here.

Good to hear I was of some help anyway...

[kevinmaclean]

Try re-installing grub.

This also works from the 11.3 Install disk "Rescue" menu entry.

I add my thanks, as I had a similar problem after a fresh install of 11.3 over an XP installation, and this resolved it.

[caf4926]

This also works from the 11.3 Install disk "Rescue" menu entry.

I add my thanks, as I had a similar problem after a fresh install of 11.3 over an XP installation, and this resolved it.

Good to hear...

[lccts1]

Had same problem on two different computers when installing from the 11.3 x64 KDE Live CD.

I noticed on both machines that, like your fdisk -l also shows (posted and underlined below), that installation setup the partitiions to slightly overlap each other which I suspect is the/a problem. In my case I fixed the problem by creating the partitions in fdisk manually, then selecting their mount point and formatting them during install but not letting the install do the partitionning in any way. This worked on both machines and the install finished and worked otherwise smooth as could be.

/dev/sda1 1 262 2103296 82 Linux swap / Solaris
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 * 262 2127 14972928 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 2127 4866 22004736 83 Linux

[js_cpp]

Hi
I was meet same problems with some exceptions
I was install from DVD
When I ejected OpenSuse Install DVD and rebooted a PC I see message "Error loading operation system"
I insert the DVD agin and select above buttom menu. Next my step described in previous topic
So thank you