So, I tried a suggestion from the Ubuntu forums (sorry guys, can’t remember the link atm) The trick was to install Ubuntu 8.10 on the laptop first then load the latest version of Opensuse on the laptop. For some reason the Opensuse version of GRUB was able to recognise the kernel of the UBUNTU 8.10 install. That was the hunch anyway.

Well, we’ve had a victory of sorts. Installing Opensuse does indeed boot from the computer, at least during the install process and from the 4th partition on my hard-drive.

It did however seem to lose grub again after that first install. I think I installed something over my MBR so that it would only boot into VISTA.

Still, this computer is one step closer to being windows free. Although, I will be getting a free copy of windows 7… hmmm… must resist!!!