Trying to set up an FTP server out of an old 133mhz box. Installed vector linux, but I can't boot off the HD with LILO. I can boot using the bootdisk and the command mount root=/dev/hda1. I have two partitions, the primary is 1.4 gigs with a bootable flag and set as ext3. The extended partition is 512mb swap. I tried using lilo to write to the MBR and the first sector, neither work I just get the error: DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT FLOPPY blah blah. Lilo doesn't even start to load. the HD is primary master, and the only drive on that channel. The LILO.conf file does say root=/dev/hda1, not sure what else to look for in there.

I'm sure plenty of people have had this or similar problems, sorry for any duplicate posting but I've been searching and trying things with no luck so far.

Thanks.

Obvious, but is the BIOS set to boot from hdisk? Are the jumpers on the hdisk set correctly? If it's an old motherboard with a newer hard disk attached, it may have the geometry of the disk wrong. Maybe try burning Samrt Boot Manager to a CD and booting the hard disk from that.

Bios is set to boot from C, then A. Mode and type are set as Auto. Jumper set to Master. I believe that since the drive is readable and usable with a bootdisk, the drive itself is configured correctly..? It is an old drive thats always been in the system. I'll get a copy of Smart Boot Manager and try that, this bios can't boot from CD, I can do it off floppy though. What will this accomplish though? I can already boot with a bootdisk.

Thanks.