USB Drive Install: Possible Write To Windows Root

I installed “openSUSE x86_64” on my 8GB Kingston DataTraveler from a Live CD. The only problem with this concerns the fact that if I boot up without the USB drive I either get GRUB Error 21 or 22. If I reboot with the USB drive connected, the openSUSE boot screen loads and I can choose openSUSE 11.1, Windows Vista Business, or Failsafe.

Did the installer load something to the Vista MBR? How do I fix this as I cannot lose my Windows install at this time (college and work). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, as I am trying to learn more about Linux, expecially SUSE, could someone explain how this happened and where I went wrong?

What happened is that you installed the bootloader on the internal harddisk, while it should have been installed on the USB disk, if you want to keep the windows native boot.
Mind, your Windows is not lost. Search the forum for ‘fix windows boot’ and you’ll find a solution to your specific case.

Thank you for your help. One question…why do I need to have the USB drive plugged in?

The info on that link did not help as I cannot find the /boot/grub/menu.lst list on Windows. That leave SUSE so I may nee to boot into openSUSE to fix this. I also checked the USB and it is empty yet I cannot boot without it. This isn’t making too much sense right now.

Regards!

Knurpht…the odd thing is that I cannot find the “menu.lst” file. I have Windows set to see hidden files and folders and the USB drive is empty yet I get the GRUB error 21 or 22 if I try to boot my computer without it? I have no idea where to begin researching this. Thanks!

If you boot with the USB connected and start openSUSE, you should be able to access all the info you need.

But maybe what you want to do is fix the vista boot code. And then maybe use vista to boot suse.

Repair Vista with your Vista DVD
or with this: Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files
some more info here: Winhoes no longer likes to boot after fresh install - Page 4 - openSUSE Forums

Use this boot manager in Vista (I can’t confirm if it will work with a USB)
Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

Or I guess it might be possible to install grub on the usb. This might interest you too:
UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads

Cool…I’ll try those options…hopefully one of them will fix this. I do recall seeing /sdb and sdb1/Windows/C/… but I cannot find that anywhere. Maybe what I am looking for is only available when GRUB loads with the USB plugged in. Thanks again!

Sometimes I am such an idiot. I completely forgot about fixing the MBR via command prompt. Thanks again!