Boot Problems

[BrianP]

I have downloaded Suse 10.2 onto a DVD and I am trying to install it to a USB external disk. The installation goes fine until the system restarts and GRUB hangs. If I restart the computer I am unable to run my Windows XP Prof without repairing the MBR. Any help appreciated.
Thanks
BrianP

[devils casper]

hi BrianP,

Welcome to the LinuxForums.

does your machine's BIOS support booting from External disk (removable devices)?

[BrianP]

Thanks for the welcome.
Yes, I can boot from floppy or CD/DVD.
Brian

[devils casper]

what about External Harddisk?

[BrianP]

I can probably alter the BIOS so it will boot from the external disk.
Brian

[devils casper]

a few machine's BIOS doesn't support 'External Disk Boot up'. first of all be sure about that.
if your machine's BIOS supports it, fix is a bit easy but if BIOS doesn't support 'External Disk Boot up', you have to create /boot partition in Internal Harddisk.

[BrianP]

I will check my BIOS
Brian

[BrianP]

I have completed installation of Suse 10.2. I have fixed the MBR so that Windows boots. I have to use the DVD to boot Suse. I have to click on installation, agree to the licience, and then click on other options and then boot installed system. I hust need a CD that will boot straight into Suse.

My BIOs will let me boot from the external hard disk.
Brian

[devils casper]

okk ! boot up SuSe, log in as root, open terminal and execute this

fdisk -l

post output here. post the contents of /boot/grub/device.map and /boot/grub/menu.lst files.

[BrianP]

Sorry for the delay - I have to work!


Disk /dev/hda: 8455 MB, 8455200768 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1027 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 1027 8249346 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdb: 6850 MB, 6850206720 bytes
240 heads, 63 sectors/track, 884 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 15120 * 512 = 7741440 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 1 883 6675448+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 9964 80035798+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 15.0 GB, 15000330240 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1823 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 121 971901 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb2 122 842 5791432+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 843 1823 7879882+ 83 Linux
linux-iaqd:~ #

hd1) /dev/hdb
(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd2) /dev/sda
(hd3) /dev/sdb
(hd0) /dev/hda

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Mar 8 17:22:02 UTC 2007
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd3,1)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.2
root (hd3,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/sdb2 vga=0x31a resume=/dev/sdb1 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

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

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader (fd0)+1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.2
root (hd3,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/sdb2 vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off 3
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default