I set up my new computer a few months ago with the “plan” of installing XP - which I own, Win 7 beta (to have some fun as a beta tester) and a Linux Distro. I used a boot from CD program to partition the disk with 3 partitions for OS’s - one for data and one extra.
XP installed fine, Win 7 Installed fine, Linux installed fine.
But, when I shut down and re-booted (months ago) the only options “windows” shows is the XP and Win 7. Sigh. I’ve been using Win 7 ever since. I did not have the time/patience to correct the issue. (I’d been without a machine at home)
Having taken some time to evaluate what I actually use this machine for, and what I want to use if for in the future, (and what Win 7 will cost me) I’ve decided to try for a SUSE 11.1 install.
Used Pmagic 4.4 to get the following facts:
Mount Point File Sys Size Label
Unallocated 7.84MB
/media/sda1 NTFS 341.8GB C_XP
/media/sda2 NTFS 341.8GB Win7
/media/sda3 NTFS 195.3GB
/media/sda4 Exteneded 518.35GB
unallocated 1.31MB
media/sda5 NTFS 515.8GB Data
unallocated 6.16MB
/media/sda6 ex3 2.32
/media/sda7 linux swap 172.5MB
The sda1, sda2 and sda5 partions have ‘stuff’ I want to preserve.
From what I’ve read - I can specify durring the install to use the /sda3 partition to load the OS. I’m assuming that it will either allow me to specify /sda6 for ex3 partition and the swap file on sda7. I don’t like to assume
Additionaly - I’m puzzeled that durring the boot process I don’t “see” my original Linux installation - any hints or ideas about this are appreciated.
Are there any other facts or todo’s that I should know about before proceeding?
That info really makes no sense except for sda 1,2 and 3.
By what you quote Linux is not installed. You really need to boot a live cd, Parted Magic will do and either post a screen of the partitioner or a terminal output of: fdisk -l
Thanks for the prompt reply. My appolgies that the information wasn’t clear.
I did not install SUSE the first time - can’t remember if it was Ubuntu or Fedora. I want to replace whatever is there with SUSE.
Device Boot Start End ID System
/dev/sda1 * 2 44620 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 44621 89239 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 89240 114735 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 114736 182401 f w95 ext’d lba
/dev/sda5 114736 182076 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 182077 182379 83 LINUX
/dev/sda7 182380 182401 83 LINUX SWAP/Solaris
I’ve done a preview of this and my whitespace alignment of the ‘table’ goes away (sigh). The heading line “Device Boot…” is correct. the only entry under “Boot” is the asterick for the /dev/sda1 line.
As I’m booting with the pmagic 4.4 ram version, I don’t know how to get std output or screen captures to this forum. (Frustrating to be this inept. Thanks for your patience)
Thank you. Much better. But you need to put whatever data you have on sda5 somewhere else. Can you boot to windows and move it over? Otherwise you have no room for install! Unless you can use sda3?
If you can use sda3, you still need to tidy up sda6 and sda7. Delete them both and use all the space they create to create 1 new swap partition.
Now a note about grub and booting. Currently you are using sda1 to boot from see the *
If you install grub to the MBR it will corrupt the Windows code, but you know that right. It’s OK, grub will chainload booting of windows. BUT, Vista and W7 have issues installing service packs, so if and when you have that happen, you will need to use the windows dvd to fix the MBR and boot record - install the service pack and then repair grub.
Read more here: All About Grub - openSUSE
Once you have your partitions as above, boot the install dvd and use custom partitioning so you can manually select your partitions. Remember to enter mount points for your ntfs partitions but do not format. Watch a SUSE 11.1 install Slideshow - openSUSE Forums
Thanks for the guidance.
sd3 6 and 7 are all available.
Regarding the Multi-boot issues - Thats THE issue I have to have clear in my head, so I’ll do the reading you suggest.
Again - thanks for the informative response.
I’ve deleted the sda6 and 7 as they were not ‘in use’.
Given the reading about the issues with dual boot from the same drive and problems with what Windows does to the MBR I’m thinking that a seperate drive would be a clean way to accomplish my goal of keeping my current functioning system alive while I transition to SUSE.
From the threads I’ve read, it seems that using the BIOS BOOT ORDER as the point that I choose which OS I want will work clean as long as I have the SUSE drive on the first channel.
Does my plan have any flaws? Thanks, again, for your time and efforts.
If you can add a HD, great. Clean things up with your existing HD and when you add a HD, set it to First in Boot order in BIOS. If you are using SATA drives, then maybe make sure it’s using the first SATA socket too, or it may not be seen as you expect.
When that is set OK Install SUSE. Double check how the installer is seeing things, so you know how to set grub to the MBR of the SUSE HD
Its late here so I might have made a stupid error. I doubt it, but its possible.
I changed the cabels so that my original HD was on Sata chanel 2, DVD on chanel 3. Rebooted to windows, ran for awhile all is well.
Pluged the brand new hd in on chanel 1 (aka
/dev/sda) and powered up to windows. Went to Control panel - computer mgmt - storage - it was grumpy that the new drive wasn’t formated - wanted me to allow it to set it up. I did not allow that action.
Powered down, put in the SUSE 11.1 64bit ISO and powered up. Booted to the CD -
Durring System Analysis YasT2 had a problem with ‘cd:///?devices=dev/sro,/ev/sr1’ Valid meta data not found - clicked on try again, error was not re-displayed and the install proceeded.
My HD’s were id’d as /dev/sda (which it took all of - which it fine with me)
and /dev/sdb - which it displayed the size and lables that matched what I’ve posted previously.
Got all the way thru the install process - booted got an error ( I had left the cd in the drive - removed it and cycled power) Booted up ‘into’ suse - got a message box to load smpppd - clicked on ok - no joy.
Clicked on Firefox - could not find.
Clicked on shut down, powered back up. and here I am in windows with no option to get into suse.
Hints and suggestions most welcome.
Thanks for your time and efforts.
I believe I now owe you 2 pints at your favorite pub. Around here that would be 2 mugs at the bar
Todays activities:
Booted to the ISO I used to do the install - ran check Media - failed.
Downloaded (HTTP) a fresh copy.
Downloaded md5deep - verified md5 on disk to the one provided on the site.
Started to use IMG-BURN (A program I’ve used to generate several ISO’s in the past) It displays a MD5 for the file that does not match what I just got from md5deep. Abandon that program.
Win 7 has a “burn image” option -so I used that.
Booted it and did the Media verify - it failed. SIGH
Any sugestions are most welcome,
Thanks for your time.
I can’t emphasise enough the need for Quality media discs! And Burning as slowly as possible.
If you download the dvd with bittorrent it will do a re-check if need be, so you never need to re-download it. In fact you could import a .iso you downloaded with http and have it re-checked in the torrent client. But forget that for now.
Check the md5 of the downloaded .iso, if that’s OK, move on to the burn, Slow!!
Now boot from it and do the media check. If it fails again, if you can try the check on a different dvd drive that might be interesting?!
Be carefull what you wish for
I tried several other burn programs at lowest speed my drive suports. No change - all fail the Media check.
Took the 1st DVD I made to another computer - ran the media check - it passes!!
Not sure where to go from here.
I’ll do another install and make carefull notes about where it fails.
Thanks for your time and efforts.
Thanks for being so polite - its rather expected that “you English” are ever so…
I have a functioning system. Still have lots to learn, so I’ll be back here to research, share and ask ?'s.
Steps that got me working.
When I proved that the DVD was OK on another machine, I used my Win7 to delete the partitions on the new drive, that left it empty for SUSE.
I remembered that when I was using the Gparted Live CD to examine my disks, I had to pick the 2nd Ethernet port to connect to the web.
So BEFORE I did the install, I moved the ethernet cable from one port to the other. This time the “load Smppd” worked - more or less- correctly. Still had to configure the port manually - but its up and running. Also, I can connect and print to the Brother printer connected to my Router.
So I have enough functionality to be optimistic.
Still to come - getting my video card drivers and the USB Pinnacle TV.
Once - again - my sincere THANKS for your assitance and patience.
If your ever find yourself in Kansas, send me a PM - I’ll be your guide for a day or two
