Problems with my OpenSuse 11

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi,

i use a OpenSuse 11 / Win Xp Multiboot installation on my IBM T40.

All was fine, until i wanted to install xp sp3.
My partition was not big enough(3,5gb) and i had to resize it.
I resized it to 5 gb and installed the sp3.

Later i wanted to boot openSuse and the booting stops with a “Kernel Panic” msg, and all i can do is a shut down.
The “Safe Mode” doesn’t work too.
I know, openSuse can’t know that i resize my partitions in Windows, but is there any way of rescuing my installation or is it better to reinstall ?

If i have to reinstall opensuse, whats the best way of doing this without to mess up the grub bootloader ?

greets rainer

2

If you used the suse dvd to install you can try the repair option from booting the dvd.

Though it’s likely you need to do a fresh install. You may be able to keep your /home

It’s likely that the next partition after XP has become damaged by what you did.

The bootloader will be re-installed if you do a new installation, but the repair will not do anything unless it needs to.

3

hi, first thanks for ur response.

i thought that i would have to reinstall, np.

what i have in mind is,( im fresh to linux ), when i reinstall openSuse, will the installer recognize that i reinstall it and not install a second linux?

if not :
Is there any way i can unistall the linux and the grub bootloader before installing the fresh or is this not neccessary?
If so, is it enought to format the linux partitions?
Formating the grub will make me unable to boot win xp, doesn’t it ?
Will the installer ask me for repair @ installation ( like win xp install ) ?

So that were are many questions :slight_smile:

thx so long

Rainer

4

Maybe this guide will help a little:
Partitioning/Install Guide - openSUSE Forums

But to answer your questions:

Boot from dvd and choose ‘Installation’ then New Installation
It will see all your existing partitions as they are. It will perform an install based on that. The only thing I would say is: MAKE SURE that in the proposal /home is not marked for format (that is if you need data on there) otherwise it’s fine to format it.The / partition will certainly be marked for format, which is fine.
Grub will be re-installed in the MBR (which is where it should be). Don’t get hung up about Grub, you can re-install it as many times as you like.

If you install, keeping /home as is, you will have all your settings and documents.

But you will need to re-install all the applications you had previously.

Your other option is to try the Repair feature and select automatic. If it doesn’t work - Just go ahead with the fresh install described above.