dual boot replacing different linux distro

Hi

I am currently dual booting Win 8 with Ubuntu and want to swap form Ubuntu to opensuse. I also currently have two disks, with the opertaing systems on sdb and the data on sda.

Ubuntu currently has:
sdb5 = /
sdb2 = boot/efi
sda2 = /home

The opensuse proposal would put everything on sda (as well as proposing many sub-partitions) so I suppose I need to specify it using the ‘expert’ option? Should I delete the above partitions and then add them for opensuse - in particular, can I / should I still create boot/efi?

Thanks

Dave

The opensuse proposal looks complicated, because it is using “btrfs” and lists many subvolumes.

If you really want to replace ubuntu (i.e. overwrite it, but use the same partitioning), then

On the partition screen, ignore the proposal and click “Create Partitioning”
On the next screen, select “Custom partitioning”

On the next screen, toward the bottom of the screen, there should be a button for “Import Partitioning”. Use that.
It should list the partitions that ubuntu used. If you accept that, then it will reuse those.

Note that you can safely abort at that point if you have more questions that you want us to answer.

On 2015-08-01 15:06, nrickert wrote:
>
> The opensuse proposal looks complicated, because it is using “btrfs” and
> lists many subvolumes.
>
> If you really want to replace ubuntu (i.e. overwrite it, but use the
> same partitioning), then

I have a doubt. Will it propose the subvolumes that are used on a btrfs
root automatically, if you change the target root partition?


Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” at Telcontar)

If he imports, as I suggested, it will propose to reformat the root partition, using the same file system that ubuntu used (probably “ext4”).

Hi

thanks for this - I followed the instructions, it did propose ext4, which I used. No errors reported during the installation.

Unfortunately on reboot I only see a command line grub> . Also the header line says “GNU.GRUB version2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1.3”, so something from the previous system I suppose. I’ve had a quick look at a list of grub commands but I don’t know what to do next - I would be very grateful for any advice.
Regards
Dave

I just tried ls(hd2,gpt2)/
which gives:
efi/ boot-sav/

then -
ls (hd2, gpt2)/efi/
which gives:
./ …/ Microsoft/ Boot/ msi/ ubuntu/ opensuse/

(msi is the brand of my laptop). Should I perhaps be deleting ubuntu/?

Just take control of the install (expert mode) and point the installer to where you want things to go and how you want them mounted and formatted. The openSUSE installer gives complete control but you do have to actually tell it what to do it can not read your mind.

Now assuming you plan on keeping the Ubuntu home partition then you should mark that one not to be formatted and simply mounted as /home

Don’t be afraid to experiment nothing happens until you accept the partitioning scheme. You can change things as much as you need until you accept the scheme

Hello gogalthorp
Sorry if I ddin’t make it clear, but I have installed opensuse, following the suggestion of nrickert to use ‘import partition’. The installation appeared to go well with no error messages, but now when I boot I get the grub prompt not the grub menu. As I mentioned, in the efi directory there is both the new opensuse directory containing grub.cfg but there is still an ubuntu directory which I don’t want. I wonder if that has something to do with the fact that I am seeing the grub command not the menu.
Regards

maybe you are booting to the old Ubuntu which no longer exists. In the EFI boot you may see listed both Ubuntu and openSUSE select openSUSE as the default boot. You will have to manually remove Ubuntu form both the EFI boot partition and the EFI flash memory. You should be able to use efibootmgr. Read man page for details

Most UEFI machines allow you to hit F12 during boot. And then you can select which system to boot.

Is this a Lenovo? I ask, because my Lenovo ignores the boot order that I give it. I have to go into BIOS settings to permanently change the boot order.

Yes, thanks that was the problem.

Used the info in this link to boot into opensuse from the grub command prompt:

https://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/776643-how-to-rescue-a-non-booting-grub-2-on-linux/

Then once in, used efibootmgr to change the boot order and remove Ubuntu.

Thanks for the advice

Regards

Dave

You may want to remove the Ubuntu directory from the /boot/efi directory. This is the efi boot partition. Should be ok as long as nothing comes along and decides the Ubuntu is installed and added it back in the EFI boot list LOL. IMO best to remove since not needed

On 2015-08-01 16:16, nrickert wrote:
>
> robin_listas;2722000 Wrote:
>> I have a doubt. Will it propose the subvolumes that are used on a btrfs
>> root automatically, if you change the target root partition?
>
> If he imports, as I suggested, it will propose to reformat the root
> partition, using the same file system that ubuntu used (probably
> “ext4”).

Ah, of course…

And, at least with openSUSE, it will also import the user list and their
passwords. And maybe more things I’m not aware of.


Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” at Telcontar)