LinuxQuestions.org - Lilo with Mepis ??

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Lilo with Mepis ??

Every time I try to use the live CD to fix GRUB on my desktop, it breaks again. GRUB is installed on partition sda5, which is the Linux partition on my desktop. It gets to step 1.5 and then grinds to a halt broadcasting error 18. Then I get a message that the bios doesn't support it being there. This can't be the case because I had it running like that for years without a problem.

How can you switch from GRUB to LILO in Mepis instead to try to see if a new boot loader will help?

The exact error message says:

GRUB Loading stage1.5

GRUB loading, please wait...
Error 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

Then I get a message that the bios doesn't support it being there. This can't be the case because I had it running like that for years without a problem.

Your BIOS will only support a certain size disk. If the files grub is looking for are located near the beginning of the drive then grub works OK. If a file is beyond the BIOS limit then grub cannot access the file through the BIOS. So some file which used to be near the beginning of the drive is now somewhere beyond the BIOS limit.

The solution to this problem is to set up a small (100 Meg will do) partition at the very beginning of the drive and make that partition /boot. The only time Linux uses the BIOS to access a drive is at boot. After boot finishes the BIOS limit is irrelevant.

--------------------------
Steve Stites

Is there a way to get Lilo to work with Mepis instead? BSD is installed on the first partition and I'm afraid that if I chop off and compress the first few sectors, it might corrupt UNIX, even if g-parted works properly.

My Questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

This can't be the case because I had it running like that for years without a problem.

So what changed recently, just before you started having this problem? W/ a sudden onset like this, that has to be the 1st question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

GRUB is installed on partition sda5, which is the Linux partition on my desktop.

What is installed on the MBR? Does some other boot loader chain to MEPIS' GRUB?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

Every time I try to use the live CD to fix GRUB on my desktop, it breaks again.

Does it break immediately, or does it work correctly for a while, however short?

The Error Message

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

It gets to step 1.5 and then grinds to a halt broadcasting error 18. Then I get a message that the bios doesn't support it being there.
. . .
The exact error message says:

GRUB Loading stage1.5

GRUB loading, please wait...
Error 18

For those who don't have the GRUB manual handy:

Quote:

14.2 Errors reported by the Stage 1.5

The general way that the Stage 1.5 handles errors is to print an error number in the form Error num and then halt. Pressing <CTRL>-<ALT>-<DEL> will reboot.
The error numbers correspond to the errors reported by Stage 2. See Stage2 errors.

14.3 Errors reported by the Stage 2
. . .
18 : Selected cylinder exceeds maximum supported by BIOS

This error is returned when a read is attempted at a linear block address beyond the end of the BIOS translated area. This generally happens if your disk is larger than the BIOS can handle (512MB for (E)IDE disks on older machines or larger than 8GB in general).

GRUB to LILO

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf (Post 3383267)

How can you switch from GRUB to LILO in Mepis instead to try to see if a new boot loader will help?

I think you should try to diagnose GRUB 1st.

I believe (& I could be wrong) that LILO is even more sensitive to BIOS & BIOS cylinder problems than GRUB.

As to how, have you read the LILO man page? I believe you have to write lilo config file & then install it in the MBR w/ the lilo command.