OpenSuSe 13.1 vs OpenSuSe 12.3 - GRUB: Dual boot issue

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hi All,

Months ago I had problem installing OpenSuSe on my laptop.
I had Windows 7 and I tried to create a dual boot configuration, but I lost the Windows boot partition every time after install OpenSuSe.
In that time, I found many posts stating GRUP2 was not compatible with dual boot and I should use LILO instead of GRUB2.
Because OpenSuSe didn’t have LILO as option, I was forced to install Fedora 19 on my laptop, but unfortunately this approach didn’t make me happy.
Now I would like to try OpenSuSe again (replacing Fedora), but I am really afraid of expend hours plus hours (maybe days) trying to create a dual boot without success, so…

… I would like to ask you all if someone is aware if the issue above was fixed on the last OpenSuSe 13.1 version (or not).

Best regards,

Emerson :slight_smile:

#2

Grub2 is fine with dual boot.

Pay close attention to the partitioning and don’t accept anything that will over write stuff you want to keep.

You did not say if the machine is BIOS or UEFI???

If you don’t understand then if you can boot to RH open a terminal window and show us output of

fdisk -l

that is a lower case L not a one

That will show how things are partitioned now and we can advise yo how to proceed

#3

Thank you gogalthorp,
Right now I don’t have any other partition than the Windows one (because I am re-installing all OS) and looking at my laptop setup [F2] I didn’t find information about UEFI configuration (only a BIOS version).

Sorry for asking you, but do you remember about the issue related above involving the old openSuSe GRUB2 version and dual boot?
I am asking because you started your post saying: “Grub is fine with dual boot”, but I am not sure if it is fine NOW (was fixed) or if the problem that I faced was not related to Grub in the past.

Thank you again.

#4

Ok if this is a ground up install, leave the space you want to use for openSUSE unpartitioned. Or resize Windows to give you the free space. I recommend a minimum of 30 gig but if you are only playing 20 is enough. The installer should see the free space and recommend the install there it will default propose 3 partitions swap/root/home root is where the OS lives home is where you will store your personal files and settings.

If by some chance Windows does not show in the grub menu after you install don’t panic it is not gone come back and someone will explain how to get Windows in the menu

#5

That’s my impression as well.
But …

If you have a HardDisk of 2 TB or less, then there’s no need for GRUB 2.

I have a dual boot working fine, windows 7 and openSUSE 12.3, using legacy GRUB.

However, once, as I tried to install openSUSE 11.4 using legacy GRUB as well, I had the issue that the root partition of openSUSE
should be allocated on the HardDisk below the 128 GB limit.

GRUB2 in this respect may be better, but I don’t have experience with respect to that.

If you want to use legacy GRUB, just don’t accept the proposals of the installer from the DVD.

You should be able to customize the install to your needs.

Good luck
Mike

#6

On 2013-12-27 21:46, emerson infosys wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Months ago I had problem installing OpenSuSe on my laptop.
> I had Windows 7 and I tried to create a dual boot configuration, but I
> lost the Windows boot partition every time after install OpenSuSe.

You should have asked us that time.

> In that time, I found many posts stating GRUP2 was not compatible with
> dual boot and I should use LILO instead of GRUB2.

False.

> … I would like to ask you all if someone is aware if the issue above
> was fixed on the last OpenSuSe 13.1 version (or not).

There has never been such an issue.

If you want precise help here, you have to post your partition table, as obtained by running


fdisk -l

on a Linux system, for example the one you get while running the demo or Live KDE or GNOME images.

You say you only have one partition, but I doubt that. Windows 7 likes to install on two partitions,
one for boot, another for system. And if you bought the computer already installed, typically you
have a third partition for rescue, and sometimes a fourth for drivers.

If you are absolutely sure you only have one partition, then you only need to make sure it doesn’t
use the entire disk, and the installer should be happy to make a proposal for double boot.

Basically, the alternatives are: grub in the MBR, or grub on the boot partition, with MBR untouched.
I prefer the later when Windows is involved.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

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