How To Add Boot Records If I Did Not Install ANY?

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

During install, I chose to not install ANY boot records, fearing overwriting my Windows 7 MBR. Now I know otherwise, but to save a couple hours of install, please tell me:

How can I install openSUSE boot after-the-fact?
NOTE: I cannot boot into openSUSE.

#2

Example to install Grub on sda2:

grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage2
  (hd0,1)
grub> root (hd0,1)
grub> setup (hd0,1) # install in bootsector of sda2
grub> setup (hd0)   # install to MBR
grub> quit

You’ll need to do some burning first: PartedMagic

#3

DON’T install Grub in the bootsector of your Windows partition! That’s how you’ll overwrite your Windows bootsector and NOT by installing Grub in the MBR.

#4

Hi again:
I prefer gparted, or Windows’ Disk Management.

As for GRUB, I do not want to use GRUB. Unless it is through NeoGRUB in EasyBCD, but I need to know how to configure it.

#5

Yes, thank you. Except now I need to get into the OS now that I have no GRUB, because I do not want to spend hours on the reinstall. I installed and configured lots of things before rebooting, so it would be a huge waste of time to reinstall.

#6

Okay I will try this. I am burning Parted Magic now. Please advise.

Also I need to install in sda6
sda5 is my SWAP
sda6 is my main
sda7 was also created by the install.

How should I use Parted Magic, and how do I create the GRUB. and how do I do it since I need to install in sda6
Thanks so much for your help!!!

#7

Okay, I have burned Parted Magic, please tell me what to do next =)

#8
  • hope that grub stage2 has been installed … (I’m not sure as it is so uncommon not to install Grub at all that very few of us might have experienced this situation).
  • If so, the solution is in post #4. You just have to replace (hd0,1) with the suitable partition. You can install Grub in MBR as well (see the 2 commands) but you don’t have to. However, if you install it only in the Linux root partition, you will have to set the bootflag on that partition. I would recommend fdisk … but since you’re having fun with gparted, you can use gparted to do it. @caf4926 will show you how.
#9

Did you get your avatar I made you? If not, here:
http://forums.opensuse.org/avatars/opensuse_99999999999.gif?dateline=1296021926
I am using it, but if you use it, I will not use it. I made it so it perfectly lines up with the rest (I assume that’s what you were trying to do).

Thanks for your help!

Now,

  1. Yes, unfortunately, I installed NOTHING. I had previously installed PCBSD, and they told me not to install anything, so I didn’t and it turned out perfect with only EasyBCD. But apparently openSUSE is not such a sinch.
  2. I’m sorry, I don’t know what the suitable partition is. Please tell me. All I know is sda6.
  3. who is @caf4926
  4. you do know I cannot access openSUSE? I am posting from Windows. I only have access to Windows.
  5. What am I supposed to use Parted Magic for? I just burned it - I am confused.
#10

The following command in the Grub shell will tell you.

find /boot/grub/stage2

In that particular case install Grub and set the bootflag of the partition where you installed it (if you choose not to install it in MBR). If you install it in MBR, the active partition doesn’t matter.

#11

I am in WINDOWS. Please help. I cannot access grub shell.

#12

That’s why you burned Partedmagic. Boot from it!

#13

My avatar is aligned … but yours is behaving strangely.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7622/avatarjy.th.png](http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7622/avatarjy.png)