Changing boot partition

[graphicks]

I messed up with my install of openSuSE. I wanted to boot from sda1, but instead, my boot is from sda5 (my /). I can live with this setup, and I didn't realize it until I had spent considerable time with installation of files and configuration of the system.

If I choose to attempt a change, I'm wondering what chances I have of breaking the system. What I'd intend to do:
1.) fdisk to make sda1 bootable
2.) change fstab for sda1 as /boot
3.) copy everything from my current /boot to sda1
4.) verify and correct grub for correct location of kernel

Any problems with my steps? What chance of success do I have?

[Jonathan183]

I doubt you need to mark sda1 as bootable, grub should work anyway.
I'd use cp -a when copying /boot information
You should be able to get it to boot ... and even if you fail first time you can always boot from a live CD and fix it

[devils casper]

Is there any specific reason for using first partition as /boot only?

If I choose to attempt a change, I'm wondering what chances I have of breaking the system. What I'd intend to do:
1.) fdisk to make sda1 bootable
2.) change fstab for sda1 as /boot
3.) copy everything from my current /boot to sda1
4.) verify and correct grub for correct location of kernel

It should work fine. You can skip first step. Boot flag is not necessary in Linux. Its a Windows thing. If you have installed Boot Loader properly and its conf files are configured and pointing available kernel correctly then You can boot up from any partition.

[graphicks]

Is there any specific reason for using first partition as /boot only?

None other than personal preference. I have three partitions for OS, plus one /home partition, in addition to the first partition I want to use for /boot. I'm trying share /home and /boot among all OS. I just like to play around with different distros all the time.

Busy day at work yesterday kept me from checking on here until now. I appreciate the responses. I was not aware that setting boot flag was not needed. Even Gentoo's documentation states to set it. I'm sure they just want to make things work among all scenarios. I won't be using Windows anyway. I scrapped Windows 7 for the setup I have now. I won't go back unless I'm forced.

Thanks again,
Greg

[linuxforever]

You can always change Your boot via Yast and boot options.

[graphicks]

As it turns out, I was changing the partition sizes on sda in order to do what I wanted, when the partition table was lost. First time I lost anything with partitioning, but I had it all backed up. Now I have it all set up the way I want. The big problem is that I have to start over with my Gentoo installation. Good thing I like to do this stuff.