I broke it! How can I fix it?

[Rick Sivernell]

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:59:00 -0400
Rick Bowers <rwbowers at gmail.com> wrote:

> I just bought a new computer and have already broken it.
> 
> The computer is an Acer Aspire and had Windows Vista installed.
> When it shipped, it had 3 partitions: a hidden system restore 
> partition (sda1), C: (sda2) (1/2 the remaining space, with Windows 
> Vista), D: (sda3)(1/2 the remaining space, USER).
> 
> I booted a live linux disk and re-sized and re-partitioned the D: 
> partition to two partitions; 64GB (D:) and 80GB (empty).
> At this point, the computer still functioned normally.
> 
> Then I made the empty partition an extended partition (sda4) and 
> created sda5 (76GB, "/") and sda6 (4GB, "swap")
> 
> Next, I loaded an OpenSuSE CD and installed it to sda5.  When the 
> install process asked me where to install the boot loader, I told it 
> /dev/sda5.
> Why?? Because my choices were MBR, root disk , or boot disk (sda5). I 
> did not want to put GRUB on the MBR because I wasn't sure what that 
> entailed. I did not want to destroy the hidden recovery partition, so 
> I chose my boot disk, sda5.
> 
> Well, not the computer will not boot at all. A reboot simply displays 
> "Verifying DMI Pool Data ..........." then hangs. Forever.
> 
> I'm technical, but don't (obviously) understand the boot process. I 
> can boot a live CD and, hopefully, recover. But I need help.
> 
> Should I replace the MBR? Is it safe to put GRUB in the MBR? Will 
> that still let me boot to the recovery partition?
> What are the steps to recover from my stupidity? I don't understand 
> GRUB at all so will need somewhat detailed procedures.
> 
> TIA!
> 
> ~Rick
> 
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Rick

 Is this a laptop? I have the Aspire 5100 and all three ,Xp, Vista, and Fedora 7 run
very nicely. I have each on its own hard drive. I did put grub on MBR.

-- 
 Rick Sivernell
 Dallas, Texas  75287
 972 306-2296
 res005ru at verizon.net
 Registered Linux User