On Dec 13, 2007 1:07 AM, Robert W Best
Hi, SuSE 10.3 KDE is my workhorse but on other partitions I've several other Linux flavors (and MS WinMe). I can boot each OS and frequently add or replace one to explore a new Linux version. Doing so I encountered several problems for which I found no easy solutions.
Installing a new Linux usualy changes the MBR and prevents to boot some old Linux's. SuSE 10.3 does a good (not perfect) job in recognising other OSs, but Fedora 8 for instance left me with only Fedora and Windows to boot.
Then I try to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst or grub.conf if it exists. If the new Linux uses lilo instead of grub I consider it incompatible with the old ones and delete it. If it doesn't give me root access, or shows the Gnome desktop, I restart.
One way out is to boot SuSE with the Boot Installed System option on its installation disk, logon as root, mount the new Linux with YaST Partitioner and try again to edit its menu.lst
Another way is to use Mandriva Free 2007 that holds the last boot menu list. Its installation disk features the Rescue System / Re-install Boot Loader option. Then I can boot again all old Linux's and try to add an entry for the new Linux on menu.lst - but unfortunately Mandriva is one of those dreadful distros that doesn't allow root access so again I've to use SuSE to access its menu.lst
Still another way is to use Knoppix or SimplyMepis to hack other systems - which seems to render passwords futile ...
Moreover there is the problem of different file systems. If I replace a Linux using ext3 by a Linux using reiserfs, and forget to edit /etc/fstab in SuSE for this partition, then SuSE refuses to boot ...
Any easier solutions? Robert -- http://rwbest.no.sapo.pt/
I don't know of any easier solution for you, but what I would do is to choose NOT to install boot loaders from other distros. Then when I reboot, I go to SUSE and make the changes to menu.lst, or use YaST to modify the boot loader menu. Just my 2 cents. Cheers, Chua -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org