Hello all
I have my system set up as I posted in hxxps://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/install-boot-login/482516-installl-12-2-secondary-hdd.html.
Since then I have found it necessary to wipe and reinstall XP which of course overwrote the mbr and I now no longer have OpenSUSE.
After searching the forums I found a post on reinstalling grub from a live cd, so I decided to try this.
I booted from the live dvd and entered configuration - software - boot loader. On loading the Check Boot Loader, Read Partitioning and
Load Boot Loader Settings were all ticked, but I received a dialog stating
ERROR
Because of the partitioning, the boot loader cannot be installed properly.
For interest, I pressed OK and carried on.
The Boot Loader Settings dialog appeared. I then selected Boot Loader Installation Details and a dialog showing sda and sdb appeared with sda highlighted.
This was where the boot loader was installed originally.
On the Boot Loader Settings screen, I was given the option of grub or grub2, Boot Loader Location in Boot from Master Boot Record, Boot from Root Partition
and Custom Boot Partition.
Am I correct in thinking that selecting sda and Boot from Master Boot Record are the options I should choose to return to what I had before the XP reinstall ?
But what about the error message ? Is it because XP is on sda and OpenSUSE on sdb ?
If this is so, can it be ignored ? If not, what can I do about it ?
Any advice gratefully received.
It really depends on how you want to operate.
Assuming a BIOS and not UEFI, yes the MBR should contain the grub code either grub1 or grub2. Since grub one is slowly going away I’d suggest grub2 but it is your choice.
Don’t know the reson for error since you did not say what it said exactly. But probably because of booting from sda with system on sdb. And it got confused, but the setting you mentions should straighten things out.
Sorry, I disagree.
On a multiboot system it would be better if the MBR only contained the generic DOS/Windows boot loader, and grub or grub2 should be installed to the root partition.
That Linux root partition has to be set to “active” or “Boot” then of course. And it should be the only one to be set as “active”/“Boot”.
Use fdisk to check or change it if needed.
Even a reinstall of Windows should not do any harm to the boot loader then…
(assuming this is BIOS and not UEFI of course)
Not if the system is not on the same disk. As I understand / (and thus /boot) are on the second drive. Generic does not know to check that but grub boot code will be set to get to the boot partition.
Unless there is a separate /boot partition on the first drive then generic won’t work
Well, AFAIR the generic boot loader did boot Windows on my second drive (sdb) when that was set to “active”.
But I have to check this again to be sure… 
@gogalthorp:
Yes, you are right and I am wrong, sorry! :shame: (my memory seems to have played tricks on me for that…)
I just tried to remove the “active” flag for sda1 (my linux root partition) and set it for sdb1 (my Windows partition), and still grub2 started.
I even overwrote the MBR with the generic loader using “dd” to be sure.
So reinstalling grub/grub2 on the MBR does seem to be the best thing to do in the OP’s case…
Thanks for the advice.
gogalthorp - I did give the exact error message I received. I have a screenshot showing this
but am not allowed to post attachments.
I will try what I thought as in my first post and will let you know how I get on.
Well, I tried installing the boot loader as I said in my first post.
No good. Still boots directly into XP. Looks as if the error I received
really meant what it said.
When I used PCLinuxOS, on the live CD there was an option Redo MBR which did
what I am trying to do here, ie after a fresh install of XP set up the bootloader
and allowed me to boot either XP or PCLos.
I wonder if it might work here ? Probably not. Anyone any ideas ?
In the meantime I will look for a boot manager that will set up for me.