hi i want to install lilo in the mbr with out going through a full installation of linux cuz i need to sort out the drives on my comp before i can do a full install down the line.
i have madriva 10 live cd and have try'd /sbin/lilo but nothing must be something to do with the fact that its a live cd ??? (i have a very basic under standing of linux by the way) oh if its any help i have to hd's c: and D: and 2 installations of xp pro one of which i will be doind away with when i get everthing sorted
any help would be great

phionex

I guess I don't understand your reason for installing lilo before you have a full install. If you have two XP installs, they should have their own bootloader which should be all you need...

one of the XP installations is old and when i installed the newer version there was/is only one version available on the boot loader plus i like the new LILO

I still don't see the point of what you are trying to do. Tell us the configuration you want to wind up with--eg dual boot with windows and linux---and we can tell you how to get there.

To boot two windows installations, you only have to edit "boot.ini".

I don't know why lilo would not install from a live CD, but why bother unless you need it?

Sorry, not sure how to install lilo without linux on the hard drive.

Here's a link to edit your NTLDR boot.ini file though.

Or try Smart Boot Manager for the short term.

No. You need to do one of two things:

1. Create an /etc/lilo.conf (which will only reside in RAM, since you're using a live CD) before running lilo.
2. Instead of creating a lilo.conf, pass lilo the information on the command-line.