Missing operating system after installing Linux

[cyber-noob]

I am absolutely ignorant beginner when it comes to linux. A friend burned and gave me the installation CD of the latest version of openSUSE Linux. I installed it yesterday on my PC which already had Windows XP. Everything worked well, I started using it. This morning I wanted to turn it back on, but nothing to do: I had the message "Missing operating system" in the top left of the screen on a black background. What went wrong? Please help...

[Patio]

As you are very new to linux i would recommend you to visit these topic : Best Linux Operating System to choose?
Which is the Best Linux Distribution of 2009
Any linux OS easier than ubuntu
The beginner's guide for Installing and Using Linux - free download
How to install linux
How to select a proper Linux distribution
These will help you in selecting appropriate linux for you to use on your computer... All the best.

[SalVatore]

Obviously you have missed the bootloader part when you installed OpenSuse. Bootloader is the component that is responsible for launching the operating system at boot time. Assuming that you did a hard disk installation, and you did not merely use the livecd. In this case, put the CD or DVD installation, you should have a solution, and once there, see which options you get there to install the bootloader in the MBR. Master Boot Record, a small area at the beginning of the disk drive that is designed to load the boot file, it is read when you first turn on the machine before OS is loaded...

[Solomon]

First check if your post is set to boot from your DVD drive. To do this press Del or some other key which lets to enter BIOS setup. From the Advance boot options select CD/DVD Drive as first boot device, or there will be some option know as boot device priority, there set the DVD room with highest priority... Hope this helps you...