Newbie question- Move boot grub to start of disk or MBR

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi,

I’m new to disk management and linux.

I have an old mobo that only boots to IDE HDD. I have existing windows XP and existing Opensuse 11.1 on this drive. I’d like to install Opensuse 11.2 to Sata HDD in PC but have all 3 options in grub which will have to be located on IDE HDD.

I think I’d like to move grub to start of IDE HDD in Windows XP partition or MBR. My PC currently boots grub from the second linux partition.

Can I move grub and how do I move it?

Also if installing Opensuse 11.2 will it register existing OS’s and existing grub? I think it’ll have to be a custom install.

Hopefully running Opensuse 11.2 off Sata drive will give some faster load times and running speeds.

Many thanks in advance, all help very much appreciated.

Regards:)

If it helps this my current HDD configuration-

Disk /dev/sda: 30.0 GB, 30020272128 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3649 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xcc9bcc9b                     

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        1594    12803773+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2            1595        1603       72292+   7  HPFS/NTFS      
/dev/sda3   *        1604        3649    16434495    5  Extended       
/dev/sda5            3558        3649      738958+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6            1604        2385     6281352   83  Linux               
/dev/sda7            2386        3557     9414058+  83  Linux               

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1b711b70                     

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1       60475   485765406    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 8019 MB, 8019509248 bytes
45 heads, 45 sectors/track, 7734 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 2025 * 512 = 1036800 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1c210561

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               4        7735     7827520    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Disk /dev/dm-0: 4194 MB, 4194303488 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 509 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

     Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
2

What you are undertaking is not easy for your skill level, for me it’s a walk in the park. So I have to try and explain it so you grasp it.
It’s odd forst of all that you can’t set the SATA to be a boot device. But anyway. Just boot the 11.2 DVD (when it’s available)
Either this way when you get to this part:
Choose ‘Create Partition Setup’: http://files.myopera.com/carl4926/albums/671478/8.png

Then Custom: http://files.myopera.com/carl4926/albums/671478/9.png

or In that same Pic above if the SATA drive is listed click the radio and use whole HD.

Making sure grub goes to MBR of the correct drive is here:
http://files.myopera.com/carl4926/albums/671478/19.png

http://my.opera.com/carl4926/blog/opensuse-11-1-install-step-by-step-photo-progression-video
All About Grub - openSUSE
Partitioning/Install Guide - openSUSE Forums