I installed xp on sda3 partition after openSUSE 10.3 was installed. What's the correct entry in boot/grub/menu.lst for this configuration?

I used supergrub cd to fix grub after I installed xp so I could boot linux and now it won't boot xp.

I'm not a Windows user so I'm lost. I also tried fixmbr after booting from the xp disc but that didn't work.

hd0,0 is swap
hd0,1 is / linux
hd0,2 is ntfs for xp

YaST partition tool says this:
/dev/sda1 swap
/dev/sda2 / linux native
/dev/sda3 hpfs/ntfs

Try in Yast --> system --> bootloader (grub): add the windows partition as a chainloader

The fixmbr trick only works IMO if windows is first.

This is what my menu.lst file looks like now. When I select windows, it asks me to insert the cd for installation even though xp is already installed. Anyone know what's wrong?



# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Nov 10 09:28:56 CST 2007
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.3 - 2.6.22.12-0.1
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22.12-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3320620AS_9QF68MRN-part2 vga=0x348 resume=/dev/sda1 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.22.12-0.1-default

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.3 - 2.6.22.12-0.1
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22.12-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3320620AS_9QF68MRN-part2 vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off 3
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.22.12-0.1-default

title windows
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader (hd0,2)+1

If I understand your setup correctly, I would add the following line after your SuSE entry:

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader (hd0,2)+1

You must do this using an editor like Kate and you need to log in as root. The file is menu.lst located at /boot/grub.

Thank You,

So you're saying rootnoverify should point to the partition that xp is on? I know how to edit menu.lst, I just want to make sure I understand the right way to boot xp.

I changed the entry to (hd0,2) and it still asking me to insert the xp disc to begin the install.

Looks like the install of windows isn't finished yet. Could that be so?

Yes it could be so and that might be the problem.
After Xp installs the main packages it needs reboot to continue installation.
The installation continoues from HD which is impossible here.We need to find a way to boot to xp and continue installation.
To be honest i installed my xp after suse and Xp did overwrite the MBR so the system booted directly to windows and had no problems and then i reinstalled grub.

If u insert the windows Xp installation cd isn't there any option to boot from installed system?There should be one.
If u make a windows start up disk cant u browse the partition with windows XP and start the installation manually again?

What about this: Reinstall XP. It WILL overwrite the Grub code in the mBR but do't mind that. And MAKE SURE the win install is finished. Then use the Suse install DVD to "Boot installed Suse" and when that's up, reinstall Grub, making sure that it's picked up windows by the chainloader method.


Swerdna