Due to the problems with OpenSuse 11.1 and KDevelop [1] (I really do need the development tools to work), I decided to punt and use OpenSuse 10.3. I used Microsoft’s fdisk to wipe the drive, then proceeded to install from the 10.3 LiveCD.
After rebooting for the 10.3 installation, I receieve the message “Missing Operating System”. So I boot to the LiveCD and run grub-install. YAST offers the message “Because of the partioning, the boot loader cannot be installed properly”. I have reinstalled and rebooted twice, both with the same outcome. I also verified the CD media.
During install, I used an expert install because previous experience showed that YAST choices would lead to problems (ie, run out of space) and repartioning was too difficult [2]. I chose 4 primary partitions in the following order. Partion type (swap versus ext3 was triple checked): swap (2GB), /(20GB), /usr(40GB), and /home(40GB). This was the exact settings used in a successful 11.1 installation.
> Make sure in the Grub config you set it
> to MBR and it points to the root partition
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to do this. I tried a GRUB repair per Fixing LILO and GRUB [1], but that did not work.
> HowTo Boot / Multiboot openSUSE and Windows (2000, XP, Vista - any mix)
> using the GRUB bootloader
No Windows on this box. Its purely Linux. I wanted to edit the original post with the detail, but I was locked out after 10 minutes.
It sure would be nice if this stuff just worked right out of the box :).
> You could just do the install again and make sure grub goes like this:
> http://files.myopera.com/carl4926/albums/671478/19.png
11.1: I envy you (its much nicer). I was not able to use Yast to change GRUB options (such as writing to the MBR) when attempting a repair from the 10.3 LiveCD. I even booted to the 11.1 LiveCD and tried to fix the 10.3 hard drive installation.
Would you happen to know if KDevelop works on 10.3? KDevelop3 did not work for me on 11.1. Ultimately I want to add functionality to the firewall. So I want an IDE that works (I don’t find the command line sexy).
I should also mention that this old Dell (GX110) has a Silicon Image 3125 PCI card for the larger (160GB) SATA drive. Its hard to find older UDMA66 drives any more (in the 40-80GB sizes).
I don’t know if GRUB was installed to the MBR (I took the defaults in that area). But it did boot and is taking updates now. I image getting X setup properly will be the next task. I hope 10.3 includes SaX…
/boot was much too small at 32MB. This time around, I increased it to 512MB. I settled on 512MB because I did not want to go above 1GB - I know there is a magic value that 10.3’s GRUB is having problems with. I just don’t know what the value is…
> Just wondering why you insist on a /boot
> It’s not necessary.
11.1 was OK. 10.3 had problems with the configuration you suggested. That was the original configuration that caused “Missing Operating System”. Getting /boot into lower sectors resolved the issue.
