t3h20r

Ok, guys, I have no idea where to post this, as it's a problem with dual boot (WinXP/OpenSUSE), I'm not sure if I should post it under Windows XP support or Linux support. That's why I'll post the same on both places, well I'm sorry but i don't know what else to do.
My story:
I've wanted linux on my drive for a long time now. But I need windows too, I have my own reasons. The problem was, that I was too afraid to try to dual-boot them before, that was like wow no way man, too much for me. Time was passing, I started changing, gaining more experience. Few days ago, I was kinda sick of my O$ as it was running like 10 times slower than it should cause of **** loads of viruses that were roaming around. It was time to make a fresh install. I emptied the Disk, prepared everything, then the wonderful idea flashed out of nowhere. "I'm gonna dual-boot winxp and linux!". Now the fun part starts. First, I booted the box with xp cd. Then I deleted all the partitions. The Disk is a SATAII WD 160GIGS, so I made two partitions 70 gig big. One for windows, one for linux. Then i formatted the first one and installed winxp on it. Booted XP. Installed some drivers, for video and MB, and Partition Magic. Eh now the chaos begins. Partition Magic is, this is only my opinion, a too complicated program. They've just made it too complicated, it could be a lot better. I launched Partition Magic. Next thing i did was format the second partition to ext3, for linux. Then I went around looking for options, to install my OpenSUSE. I finally found what I was looking for, "install a new OS". I selected the second partition and clicked on the install new os button. Now it asked me where do I want to install it: "Before C(winxp partition) after C but before D(The partition I made for linux) or after D.". I understood then, that I should not have made the partition, that it was useless. Then, i deleted the second partition(everything i currently do is in Partition Magic) and pressed the Install new OS button again. Now I could install the linux on the Unpartitioned space, so there it was, i just followed their wizard. Make a partition(again 70 gb), format it to ext3. Now Partition Magic(I'll call it PM from now on) asked me, do I want to install linux now, or later. cause if I want to install it later I will have to set that partition to "active mode". I didn't actually think for a second what "active mode" means. I picked "I want to setup linux now". Computer rebooted, **** happened, now the irony begins. I can't remember the message now, but it was something like "System installation error". I knew what it was the same second i saw it. It tried to boot from a partition without an OS. So i just rebooted, set the first boot device to CD-rom, put the DVD inside. Than, I installed linux. Booted up. Next thing I thought was : "mm, nice, now let's try to boot back to XP". Guess what? I can't. There were no options to pick from which one I want to boot, between the two partitions And for it to get even worse, I can't boot even linux without the DVD, every time I try to boot from Hard Disk, it shows the "System installation error", so I have to boot from CD, use the Installation or Disk Rescue options and then select "Boot an already installed system". And so, here I am. By the way, I can see all the other partitions in file system on the SUSE and I can access them as well. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0.0

wmorri

I guess that since you are getting help with this in the Windows Forum. I will let them take the lead on this one. I will follow along and see how it goes,and add my two cents when needed.

Cheers!