can't boot to winxp after opensuse 11.4 install

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hi,

I installed OSS11.4 clean install over 11.3, it is suppose to be dual boot together with with winxp.
When i select to boot xp machine starts to boot but it boots forever and eventually
nothing happens further (HHD does not spin). Can it be grub problem or it’s
winxp boot problem? When the actuall job of grub stops?
Boot loader location:
Bot form MBR, Boot from root partrition, boot from extended partrition.

Thanks for any help

#2

Was the windows partition shrunk by the SUSE installer or did you shrink it?

#3

I say this, because I’m wondering if you used Custom Partitioning or left it to the installer?

#4

Sorry, it’s not XP it’s vista if it makes any difference.
I shrank it with vista tool some years ago. It was working
flawlessly since OSS10.2 or so and with every new OSS version
i just left partitions as they were. But with OSS 11.4 smth
did not work as usual i suppose, or my vista part gave up finally…

#5

Vista - XP Win7 no matter

But did you use Custom Partitioning during setup for install of 11.4?

How about posting your fdisk info, as su -
do:

fdisk -l

Like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h191KrDK-I0)

Post result

#6

I did not use Custom Partitioning during setup for install of 11.4.

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
76 heads, 10 sectors/track, 642627 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x405e966c

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2048 16386047 8192000 1c Hidden W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2 16386048 260583423 122098688 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 * 260583424 488396799 113906688 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 260583425 264777160 2096868 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 264777170 306720799 20971815 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 306720810 488395759 90837475 83 Linux

#7

Now post me this, again as su -

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
#8

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Apr 16 09:44:26 EEST 2011

THIS FILE WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERWRITTEN by perl-Bootloader

Configure custom boot parameters for updated kernels in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader

default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,5)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title Desktop – openSUSE 11.4 - 2.6.37.1-1.2
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST9250827AS_5RG1FRAM-part6 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST9250827AS_5RG1FRAM-part5 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe – openSUSE 11.4 - 2.6.37.1-1.2
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST9250827AS_5RG1FRAM-part6 showopts apm=off noresume edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 nomodeset x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

#9

Fine.
That’s all correct.

Do you have a Vista DVD? I don’t mean a cruddy recovery DVD/CD

#10

nope I unfortunately don’t have Vista dvd. not even

cruddy recovery DVD/CD

#11

OK
So download this. And use it to repair the MBR
Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files
There should be help pages on that site.

Once you have done that, Vista should boot. If not. You need to get grub back. ( you need grub back either way) Here is how
Re-Install Grub Quickly with Parted Magic
Be sure to get the parted Magic from my guide.

You may need to switch the boot flag back to sda3 (*)

If you can’t figure it out. Ask.

#12

Many thanks for quick help. I’ll proceed now.

#13

Hope you have access to more than One computer, it makes it easier.
Guess you can always just re-install 11.4 to get grub back. It’s earlier installation should not have caused this issue, just FYI

#14

Hi again, got it solved in no time with your help. Even had time
for Finish sauna :). Thank you again.
I just ran that win recovery disc, picked some options
by intuition and got win boot repaired. I didn’t need to repair
grub, it was working just perfect afterward. So I guess it there
was smth broken in MS. I appreciate your skillful guidance and
that you were willing to help even with MS problems.

#15

Happy to hear that