Suse 9.3 yast2 hangs saving boot config or edit config
 

I'm trying to setup Suse 9.3 to boot from the HD. Yast2 hangs when it is either "saving boot configuration files" or if the button "Edit configuration" is clicked. The OS still runs, e.g. I can start up other programs, but I can't shut down the system except by powering down. If it is a matter of time, I've waited over an hour and it is still hung.

hdb was added to the following drive setup:

hda (80GB) = Win2K

hdb (250GB) = 3 partitions
hdb2 = nothing
hdb3 = clean install of Suse 9.3
hdb4 = update to Suse 9.3 from 9.2

hdd (160GB) = 3 partitions
hdd2 = Suse 9.2
hdd3 = RH8.0
hdd4 = bunch of files

To boot the Suse 9.3 installations I use the 9.3 install/rescue CD and select the hdb2, hdb3, etc., at the appropriate menu.

I've tried a "million" things, e.g. installing GRUB by command line. LILO. If whatever is booting gets me to the GRUB command line I can get started by entering the commands (kernel, initrd) and it starts up. I can't get it to boot directly for HD.

I've setup grub for multi-os booting on other machines with no trouble, read, re-read the grub docs and experimented. Recently I upgraded my WN98SE/Suse9.2 to Suse 9.3 and had no problems. This one seems to defy logic.

I'm running out of things to try.