I recently installed OpenSuse 13.2 on my desktop pc. Since doing
updates I find that I can only access the OS by the recovery mode option
in Grub. This takes a few minutes longer and when I go back to the
normal startup option it still fails to boot (no mouse cursor or
accessory options). Is there a way to troubleshoot and fix the cause.
During the original installation it booted to the wrong hard drive. I
got the Opensuse boot option by installing an additional Linux distro
(Debian 7.8.0) on the right drive. When I set my BIOS to boot to the
other hard drive, Grub fails to boot now.
EFI or legacy BIOS??
What video card? Did you install any video driver? If so how?
It ran until updated right??
Thanks for reply. Meant to type “ONLY starts in recovery mode” I didn’t realize that it does start in normal mode as well. I just have to wait a few minutes longer than usual. If I press <ESC> after initial boot I see “a start job is running” for 1 min 30 secs in the background, the same as happens near the end in recovery mode. ATI 4670 appears to have driver installed automatically. How do I tell if it is legacy or EFI bios? I am running the latest bios for the Intel Asus P5B–VM motherboard.I am having errors before booting various distros on the same disk with “UUID disk not present.” Also “overlapping partitions not permitted,” when running gparted, although the lattter cannot be confirmed by looking at the start and end points. I suspect the swap partition may have had its UUID changed when it was reformatted a couple of times during installation of other distros.
the BIOS should tell you if it is an EFI bios or check the info on the manufactures site. If it is a new board last2-3 years it is almost certainly an EFI BIOS. But you need to look into the BIOS screens to see if it is set to efi mode or legacy. Note that there are all sorts of combination possible it could be in efi mode but have the external drive boot set to be legacy. If you multi-boot then to keep your sanity is best to boot all OS’s in the same mode.
Be default you are running the OS video driver for you card. If you have not actively installed a proprietary driver.
Since you have partition format problems I suggest strongly to back up any data you want to keep and do a total repartitioning and reinstall. It may be a corrupted partition table. You need to pay attention to the BIOS. If EFI I strongly suggest you use that boot format to boot which means also GPT partitioning. This is all different from the old MBR format and if you mix the old MBR and GPT strange things can happen.
Assuming an EFI BIOS you need toboot the Install media in EFI mode you can if you want take the defaults then to get an EFI boot. note you will have an additional small FAT formatted EFI boot partition mount in openSUSE at /boot/efi Even if you take the defaults look close at the suggested partition scheme to be sure it is what you want/expect. If not take control and tell the installer how you want things organized.
This mobo is quite old. I notice that there are Linux drivers and bios versions listed under Linux but I have never attempted to install on of them. The latest BIOS version, which I have installed, was released in 2008.There is no occurrence of the word EFI in the mobo/bios manual. Legacy is indicated for USB and floppy disk drive. Being that I have 15 different Linux distros installed and, except for this hiccup in OpenSuse, they all appear to be working normally. I have all partitions backed up to an extternal hard drive but nothing much is important on the Linux drive except some movies. I have a half dozen releases of Windows included in my multiboot menu (installed on different disks) and they all appear to be working as well. The worse problem I am having with this machine at the moment is that the BIOS post delays between the identification of the four sata drives and the listing of the SMART info. When booting from cold, this delay can be as long as two minutes. It seems to be related to the power connectors to the hard drives. I would have to do too many reinstalls to even think about. Could you assist me to check my UUID info on the Linux partitions to see if I can verify why at least one of them (probably the swap) is reported as being missing. Thanks again.
UUID is a semi random number assigned to a partition. It is meant to provide a name (in computerese) for each partition. It is created at the time of the partition creation and is meant to be a unique identifier. Trouble is it is not a very human friendly name. If the system is not seeing it it is 1) not there (check the fstab) 2) the drive is not truly ready. Boot to a live media and check blkid it should list the partitions with the UUID values
Since it is old (pre EFI) it is not EFI there fore you are installing in MBR mode. These thing are important to know in any trouble shooting. With so many OS’s I guess we ought to look at your partitions.
fdisk -l
please and put any machine text in code blocks (# in the site editor)
Thanks. First time I have seen disks numbered as high as sdd or sde usually sda, sdb, and sdc From the sizes of the partitions, it appears that the hard disk on which the linux distros are installed is listed as sde instead of the usual sdc. The swap is listed as sde5 This is from inside opensuse
arch@linux-q4ye:~> fdisk -l
Absolute path to ‘fdisk’ is ‘/usr/sbin/fdisk’, so running it may require superuser privileges (eg. root).
arch@linux-q4ye:~> sudo fisk -l
root’s password:
sudo: fisk: command not found
arch@linux-q4ye:~> sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sdc: 931.5 GiB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x5d7d47e1
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdc1 * 63 287547434 287547372 137.1G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc2 287547435 532876049 245328615 117G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc3 532876050 778204664 245328615 117G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc4 778204666 1953520064 1175315399 560.4G 5 Extended
/dev/sdc5 778204729 1953520064 1175315336 560.4G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
Disk /dev/sde: 298.1 GiB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x2b7fa170
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sde1 2048 29296969 29294922 14G 83 Linux
/dev/sde2 29298686 625141759 595843074 284.1G f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sde5 29298688 39452671 10153984 4.9G 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sde6 39454720 82075647 42620928 20.3G 83 Linux
/dev/sde7 82077696 123844607 41766912 19.9G 83 Linux
/dev/sde8 123846656 154687487 30840832 14.7G 83 Linux
/dev/sde9 154689536 185438207 30748672 14.7G 83 Linux
/dev/sde10 185440256 218402815 32962560 15.7G 83 Linux
/dev/sde11 218404864 259850239 41445376 19.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sde12 259852288 294955007 35102720 16.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sde13 294957056 331900927 36943872 17.6G 83 Linux
/dev/sde14 331902976 366860287 34957312 16.7G 83 Linux
/dev/sde15 366862336 402122751 35260416 16.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sde16 402124800 435568639 33443840 16G 83 Linux
/dev/sde17 435570408 466913159 31342752 15G 83 Linux
/dev/sde18 466913280 500070399 33157120 15.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sde19 533502648 625141759 91639112 43.7G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sde20 500072448 533501951 33429504 16G 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order.
Disk /dev/sdd: 596.2 GiB, 640135028736 bytes, 1250263728 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xc4102f2e
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdd1 * 203929110 469740599 265811490 126.8G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdd2 469756658 687919364 218162707 104G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdd3 687919428 893358584 205439157 98G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdd4 65 1249616024 1249615960 595.9G f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sdd5 128 203929109 203928982 97.2G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdd6 893358648 1016223704 122865057 58.6G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdd7 1016239828 1249616024 233376197 111.3G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
Partition table entries are not in disk order.
arch@linux-q4ye:~>
live@zorin-os:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/loop0: TYPE=“squashfs”
/dev/sr0: LABEL=“Zorin OS 9 Ultimate 64 bit” TYPE=“iso9660”
/dev/sda1: LABEL=“XP” UUID=“785CD0D55CD08F6E” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sda2: LABEL=“Vistax86” UUID=“E4843BCF843BA2CA” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sda3: LABEL=“Vistax64” UUID=“449EDDDE9EDDC896” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sda5: LABEL=“Movies3” UUID=“E666AD6166AD336B” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb1: LABEL=“Win7x64” UUID=“01CF04BEB8434F30” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb2: LABEL=“Win8x64” UUID=“01CF04BECFD7FDD0” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb3: LABEL=“Win8.1x64” UUID=“34AACC96AACC55D0” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb5: LABEL=“Movies 7” UUID=“E888111B8810EA38” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb6: LABEL=“Win10_Tech_Preview” UUID=“01D049792722B1C0” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdb7: LABEL=“Movies2” UUID=“01CF02688A26B2C0” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdc1: LABEL=“Mint 16 Mate” UUID=“c2e3561e-43ab-4f30-8539-3af7debd3b86” SEC_TYPE=“ext2” TYPE=“ext3”
/dev/sdc5: UUID=“145d8c4a-2c75-4488-9e1c-74732e894bb4” TYPE=“swap”
/dev/sdc6: LABEL=“Ubuntu 14.04” UUID=“f9a6f367-560c-4129-9e15-6d0db3decc82” SEC_TYPE=“ext2” TYPE=“ext3”
/dev/sdc7: LABEL=“Ubuntu Studio 14” UUID=“ce7ca6d2-5fc5-44fe-9be1-0d47c5085462” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc8: LABEL=“Kubuntu 14.04” UUID=“84f77526-b1f4-4f7b-90dc-01724cc58643” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc9: LABEL=“Xubuntu 14.04” UUID=“2be260ac-82c6-4c7b-bb87-10d20c981e66” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc10: LABEL=“Lubuntu 14.04” UUID=“957157e2-82de-446f-bb71-0970c79b26d8” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc11: LABEL=“OpenSuse13_2” UUID=“cfd3987e-ab29-4be1-8581-3fcc49fc707e” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc12: LABEL=“Zorin 9 Ultimate” UUID=“3abb653d-5db0-4ba3-a214-1507011546b6” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc13: LABEL=“Edubuntu 14.04” UUID=“9d37d916-0646-4309-8a7c-68e3356ee668” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc14: LABEL=“Mint 17” UUID=“247df315-2a74-4dbf-8995-9d69fde2290d” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc15: LABEL=“Ubuntu Gnome” UUID=“7e034abc-3d2a-48d4-89f4-f25d102ed149” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc16: LABEL=“Ubuntu Mate” UUID=“817e8910-2d7a-4189-b170-dcde1c5cb961” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc17: LABEL=“Deepin” UUID=“e8707674-5ac9-42b6-94f3-93f13393d1de” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc18: LABEL=“Elementary OS” UUID=“0930cbc4-4511-418c-9e43-468c89755705” TYPE=“ext4”
/dev/sdc19: LABEL=“Movies6” UUID=“01CEE7D7530CB650” TYPE=“ntfs”
/dev/sdc20: LABEL=“Debian 7_8_0” UUID=“89f9dff8-91dc-4dd3-a012-f78f598f71a4” TYPE=“ext4”
live@zorin-os:~$
live@zorin-os:~$ sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5d7d47e1
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 287547434 143773686 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 287547435 532876049 122664307+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 532876050 778204664 122664307+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4 778204666 1953520064 587657699+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 778204729 1953520064 587657668 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
Disk /dev/sdb: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders, total 1250263728 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc4102f2e
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 203929110 469740599 132905745 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb2 469756658 687919364 109081353+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb3 687919428 893358584 102719578+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb4 65 1249616024 624807980 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 128 203929109 101964491 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb6 893358648 1016223704 61432528+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb7 1016239828 1249616024 116688098+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
Partition table entries are not in disk order
Disk /dev/sdc: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x2b7fa170
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 2048 29296969 14647461 83 Linux
/dev/sdc2 29298686 625141759 297921537 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sdc5 29298688 39452671 5076992 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdc6 39454720 82075647 21310464 83 Linux
/dev/sdc7 82077696 123844607 20883456 83 Linux
/dev/sdc8 123846656 154687487 15420416 83 Linux
/dev/sdc9 154689536 185438207 15374336 83 Linux
/dev/sdc10 185440256 218402815 16481280 83 Linux
/dev/sdc11 218404864 259850239 20722688 83 Linux
/dev/sdc12 259852288 294955007 17551360 83 Linux
/dev/sdc13 294957056 331900927 18471936 83 Linux
/dev/sdc14 331902976 366860287 17478656 83 Linux
/dev/sdc15 366862336 402122751 17630208 83 Linux
/dev/sdc16 402124800 435568639 16721920 83 Linux
/dev/sdc17 435570408 466913159 15671376 83 Linux
/dev/sdc18 466913280 500070399 16578560 83 Linux
/dev/sdc19 533502648 625141759 45819556 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc20 500072448 533501951 16714752 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
live@zorin-os:~$
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/archp2008/IMG_0249.jpg
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/archp2008/IMG_0248.jpg
Earlier you asked me if OpenSuse ran until it was updated. Sorry, I missed that question. There was also the problem at the time of grub having written to the MBR of the wrong disk sdb, so I installed the final distro Debian to get a complete grub listing to disk sda which is where grub generally writes by default. I am not sure if the slow boot problem started immediately following the update or immediately following the installation of the Debian distro. It could quite possibly have been the latter. I can’t remember for sure. I know it initally booted normally when I changed the BIOS to boot from sdb. I can no longer get grub to boot from that disk. I just get a blinking cursor. I could see on the advanced installation menu for OpenSuse that it was going to write to sdb but couldn’t figure out how to change it to sda on the installation menu.
You just go to expert mode and you can tell it to install any where you please
For each boot disk you can have one and only one OS controlling the boot. To be honest with that hodgepodge of OS’s hard to tell what is going on and who is in control. Do you really NEED that many OS’s?? Or are you just a collector 
If you really need them maybe VM’s are a lot easier to manage
I guess when it comes right down to it I don’t really need a computer but I’ve sort of got used to them. It’s been a hobby installing new Windows OS’s and Linux distributions. I tried clicking the location of the boot menu in the detailed expert installation mode but for some strange reason I couldn’t seem to get it to change. I did plan in advance to compare the different flavors of Ubuntu and later I ended up looking at some new ones. The Mint 16 on partition1 controls writing grub to the MBR on sda1 I use Daniel Richter’s Grub Customizer to fit the 15 distributions on the single boot menu. I would like to edit fstab or menulst if I could change something that might fix the slow booting of OpenSuse? If not I may try a reinstall at some point in the future. Thanks for your understanding.
This is not a high priority to me. Even with the “start job” running in the background OpenSuse is still ready to use in less than 2 minutes after selecting it from my boot menu. I doubt if this exact issue would have been any less likely to happen with a single linux distribution installed or 150. For the benefit of anyone who has stumbled upon this thread I will post the solution if and when I find and implement it.