[SOLVED] Bootloader Problem

[Jak_o_Shadows]

I have a huge problem with installing linux. Whatever distro i use, the bootloader doesn't work.

i've tried fedora 10, opengeu 8.10 (ubuntu based), opensuse 11.1 (twice) and the bootloader is the only place that stuffs up.

sba - 80gb win IDE drive.-------------untouched, i aint touching it.

sdb- external WD usb hdd. 250gb
sdb1-221gb---NTFS, not gonna be touched.
sbd2-20ishgb-linux, ext3-where i install linux to, mount point "/"
sdb3-900mb- linux swap

I <u>don't</u> want to interfere with sda(windows) at all. No bootloader on it, no changes at all.

Therefore, i have a couple of options. Put the bootloader on sdb (more about this later) or somehow put the bootloader on a floppy disk drive. (preferred)

I have tried several times (about 7) to put the bootloader on the mbr of sdb. However my computer won't load when i do this. No grub error, computer stuffs up when BIOS is still in control. (POST i think).

I've fixed this numerous times, and i'ts quite routine to me.

I have a floppy disk drive. I put grub on it using <i>dd</i> . it has grub on it, but however, when i go

<i>root (hd1,1)</i>
it doesn't work. it cannot find the drive.

Does anybody have any ideas?

ps. This is really, really, really, really annoying. It's stopping me using linux.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Why don't you plug-in Linux disk as Primary Master ( sda )? Its really easy to add an entry of Windows OS in GRUB after Linux installation.

[Jak_o_Shadows]

Other people use the computer ATM, so i dont' want to put linux on internal IDE hdd. They get annoyed.

And how would i get current sdb to be sda? it's external.

[vickey_20]

sbd2-20ishgb-linux, ext3-where i install linux to, mount point "/"
sdb3-900mb- linux swap

What r these partitions I have only heard of sda and hda. Y dont u install Linux on a removable HD.

[Lostfarmer]

No grub error, computer stuffs up when BIOS is still in control

Looks like your comp is not able to boot from a USB device or BIOS is not set up correctly. With my BIOS must enable 'usb dos support' or it will not work.

<i>root (hd1,1)</i>
it doesn't work. it cannot find the drive.

same as above I would think.

[Jak_o_Shadows]

Well, sorry it's been so long. I ended up putting /boot on the internal and that works perfectly. Thanks for all your help.