Repair dual boot with vista & openSUSE

user · October 10, 2009, 6:06am

Step 1: Prepare the bootloader. Go into Suse → Yast → System → Bootloader → Boot Loader Installation → Make sure the tick is in Boot from the Master Boot Record. Then click Boot Loader Options and untick to put generic code in the MBR. Then click OK to proceed.

Step 2: Shift the flag. Open a console and enter this command:
sudo /sbin/cfdisk
A representation of the partitions for sda will open. There should be the marking “Boot” alongside one partition in column labelled Flags. Use the vertical arrow keys to put the highlight on that partition. Then use the horizontal arrows to highlight " Bootable ]". Press enter and the “Boot” flag should disappear. Use the same technique to make the flag “Boot” appear on the line for windows having filesystem type (FS type) NTFS (which I imagine is sda1 - is it sda1).

Then use horizontal arrows to highlight write ] and press enter to save everything. Then quit ] to exit.

Go into Suse → Yast → System → Bootloader → Other → restore MBR of hard disk.

Hi, i tried to follow your indications, but with the cfdisk I get this error:

ERROR MUY GRAVE: Partición primaria incorrecta 1: La partición termina en el último cilindro parcial

(FATAL ERROR: incorrect primary partition 1:partition ends in the last partial cilinder) Something like that should be the proper translation

What can I do now?

swerdna · October 10, 2009, 6:56am

Here’s two questions:

Can you ignore the error message and go ahead and set the bootable flag?
The partition you are trying to set the flag on – is it a vista NTFS partition?

user · October 11, 2009, 2:11am

Hello, these are then answers:

After that message, I just press a key and go back to the prompt.
Yes, it is a vista NTFS partition.

Any additional information, just ask. I really appreciate all of your help.

swerdna · October 11, 2009, 4:12am

The error message is not uncommon for NTFS created in vista – don’t worry about it. But it might interfere with setting the active flag using Linux.

Can you please run this additional console/terminal command and post back the results:

sudo /sbin/fdisk -l | egrep "'*'|sda1"

It’s easy to make a typo so perhaps copy and paste it into the window if you’re getting error messages. It will tell me which partition is set active/bootable and also the status of the NTFS partitions.

user · October 13, 2009, 4:17am

Ok, the result is:

/dev/sda1 1 7436 59721637 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 * 7436 10668 25968699+ f W95 Ext’d (LBA)

I’ll wait for your instructions. Thanks.

swerdna · October 13, 2009, 8:53am

You haven’t told us what the problem is yet.

I’ll guess this:

When you boot using the hard drive, you get a Grub menu.
You can select openSUSE and it will boot to openSUSE OK.
Or you can select vista but the boot fails for vista.

Is that what happens? If that’s not what happens, please describe what the real problem is.

user · October 13, 2009, 3:40pm

Hey sorry. What happens is that I want to “uninstall” opensuse from my laptop (reason? well, i’m going to buy a new one and the new user of the computer just want to have vista). So, I was looking for a save way to "uninstall"opensuse and I found this thread (well, the original one), but when I tried to follow the steps indicated I found the problem I drescribed when trying to change the (*) to the vista partition.
Hope I was clear enough, I’ll will be waiting for future indications and answers.

caf4926 · October 13, 2009, 6:17pm

Easiest way IMO. Is Boot Parted Magic: Downloads - Parted Magic

Delete the Suse partitions, give the space back to windows and toggle the boot flag back to windows too.

Then you probably need to fix the Vista boot code (you’ll soon find out when you try and boot)
You need a dvd for vista. If you don’t have one. Look here: Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files

Read this:
Winhoes no longer likes to boot after fresh install - Page 4 - openSUSE Forums