Verifying DMI Pool Data

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello,

I had Windows XP installed and installed openSuse on the same HD. The openSuse install handled the existing OS perfectly including partitioning and changes to MBR for dual boot. After the install, both OSs were operational.

I booted to openSuse and made Windows to be the 1st OS to boot, restarted the machine and got “Verifying DMI Pool Data” error.

I removed the HD and moved it to another Windows machine. I can see all the files so the HD seems OK.

My goal now is to rescue XP. I do not worry about openSuse at this time.

How do I restore MBR so Windows can boot? Can I use fdisk /mbr?

Here is says:
FDISK /MBR rewrites the Master Boot Record

WARNINGS
Do not use this command if any of the following conditions exists:

* The disk was partitioned using the Storage Dimensions SpeedStor utility with its /bootall option.
* More than four partitions exist.
* Certain dual-boot programs are in use.

Any help is appreciated!

2

First let me tell you, You have just experience the effects of a Bug in SUSE. The bug has been fixed, so I can only assume you didn’t get SUSE all updated before you moved XP to boot first.
All you data is still there.

Actually all you need to do is (assuming you used a DVD to install) boot from the DVD, choose Installation, then rather than New Install look for repair, use expert, go to grub settings in ‘Booting’ and make sure in the ‘Bootloader Installation’ tab the check is just to MBR
http://files.myopera.com/carl4926/albums/671478/19.png

FYI. That info about fixmbr is normal and it would be OK to proceed. But Super Grub Disk can boot windows for you without the need to fixmbr, unless you have corrupted ntldr (a file required to boot win) but it’s unlikely. And easy enough to replace.

3

I tried to follow your advise and did:

  • boot from openSUSE DVD
  • installation
  • repaired installed system
  • expert tools
  • install new boot loader
  • selection management shows: 1) openSUSE 11.1 2) failsafe
    (windows is missing!)
  • boot loader management
  • selected: boot from MBR (the only one selected)
  • ok
  • next
  • finish
  • the system restarted

**Now I am able to boot to openSUSE.

How do I add windows boot option?**

Thank you.

4

Post the terminal result of:

cat /etc/fstab

Then go su in the terminal and do:

fdisk -l

(post result)

and then

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
5

cat /etc/fstab


/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part5 swap                 swap       defaults              0 0
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part6 /                    ext3       acl,user_xattr        1 1
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part7 /home                ext3       acl,user_xattr        1 2
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part1 /windows/C           ntfs-3g    users,gid=users,fmask=133,dmask=022,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0
proc                 /proc                proc       defaults              0 0
sysfs                /sys                 sysfs      noauto                0 0
debugfs              /sys/kernel/debug    debugfs    noauto                0 0
usbfs                /proc/bus/usb        usbfs      noauto                0 0
devpts               /dev/pts             devpts     mode=0620,gid=5       0 0

fdisk -l


Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1e2ee73a

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1       18755   150641505    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2   *       18755       30401    93554496    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5           18755       19016     2104452   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6           19017       21627    20972826   83  Linux
/dev/sda7           21628       30401    70477123+  83  Linux

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst


# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu May 21 16:15:58 CDT 2009
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,5)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.1
    root (hd0,5)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part6    resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x345
    initrd /boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.1
    root (hd0,5)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500SD-01KCC0_WD-WCAL76772614-part6 showopts ide=nodma apm=off noresume edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 x11failsafe vga=0x345
    initrd /boot/initrd
6

You need to carefully edit the menu file. You can open it to edit like this:

kdesu kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst

You need to add this after the Failsafe entry, unless you want windows to boot first by default, in which case place it above the default suse entry.

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title WINDOWS
    rootnoverify (hd0,0)
    chainloader (hd0,0)+1

Then save the file.

reboot and try windows. If it does not work report back