Booting to Slackware 12, USB, Floppy, Lilo, Grub.
 

Well I did a fresh install of Slackware 12 like my box was new. Before I was booting from a floppy to get in to Slackware because I am dual booting with XP. I did not install lilo because I plan on installing grub and am trying to avoid complications later on. Well when I get the option while installing to create a boot "USB" device. My mother board does not support USB booting to the best of my knowledge. So I have two questions and need only one answer. With Slackware 12 can I create a boot floppy? Is there a way for me to install grub instead of lilo right away?

Thanks,
Kyle

You should be able to install Lilo to the MBR and use that for chainloading to the windows boot loader (If it is not detected automatically).

Another option is to create a /boot partition on your drive (get GParted to partition your disk). Then install Grub as a stand alone installation. Assuming you have used the GParted Live CD, and your boot partition is /dev/sda2. You can use any LiveCD to get GRUB, just adjust the paths as appropriate.
1) Copy the GRUB files to your boot partition
2) Install GRUB to the MBR
Now create a file /boot/grub/menu.lst, with the following contents (Assuming Windows is /dev/sda1 and Slackware root is /dev/sda3):
Now install Slackware, and in the LILO configuring step, choose "Simple" and then choose to install LILO to the root partition of your Slackware install.

When you boot your computer, you can select either Linux or Windows. Selecting Linux will give you Slackware's LILO menu.

I hope this helps
--Ian

I am sorry I guess I was not clear when asking the question. I have a HDD that is setup like this. Here is a Photo of my Hard drive. At the present time. A bit was useful for me but right now i have to go some place I will be back to finish clarifying.

Thanks,
Kyle

So what exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Did I get the general gist of what you want? If so, just change the devices as appropriate for your setup.

It generally helps to post as much description about what you actually want, so that we don't have to guess.

--Ian

Ok here is everything. I installed 11.0 on my computer and it worked had a few problems (mouse not working, network not setting up, and would freeze randomly if I left it). I was trying to work out them out and was doing research/asking questions about compiling the 2.6.21.5 kernel for it. When I heard slackware 12 was out I thought I should give it a try instead thinking it might solve some problems mainly with the locking up. So I go to install it from the DVD. Create the partitions as the image shows. Then I did a full install on the 30gb partition.

After it installs you know it asks to put a usb drive in to create an emergency boot "disk" you could say. Like with 11 asking to put a floppy in. Anyway I still had my 11 disk so I thought to say no don't create that. Then it asks to install lilo and I again picked no because later I was going to install grub. Well now when I boot using the 11 boot floppy I run the command mount /dev/hda6 which is the slackware 12 ext3 partition. but when its "clearing memory 124kb.." it freezes.

What I wanted to know was if there is a commend I can include when installing 12 so it will install grub instead of lilo? Also a command for creating a boot floppy when installing instead of asking for a usb device?

I hope that clears things up a little.

Thanks,
Kyle

There is, AFAIK, no option for installing GRUB instead of LILO during installation. The instructions I provided above will allow you to install GRUB manually and dual boot with Windows, without the need to have a boot floppy.

If you need a boot floppy, the GRUB manual has details.

I would recommend to install GRUB manually to the MBR.

--Ian

Thank you for the help. I guess there is just no way around it I need to install LILO and then install GRUB. Which is what I was trying to avoid.

Thanks again,
Kyle

Yes, but you are installing LILO to the root partition of your Slackware install, not to the MBR of the hard disk. Therefore, it will not affect or be affected by any other boot loader.

This way, you install GRUB which simply passes control over to either the Windows or Slackware boot loader when you select either one in the menu.

Out of curiosity, why are you so adamant to avoid LILO? IMHO, it is always best to use the native boot loader that comes with a distro. This way, updates are handled with no problems.

--Ian

When I was playing with RedHat8 and Mandrake9 Linux back in 2001-2002 I tried LILO and GRUB and just liked GRUB better. You do have apoint about using the standard boot loader. Guess I will just install LILO on my MBR.

Thanks,
Kyle

grub windows install
 

http://www.geocities.com/lode_leroy/grubinstall/

after installing slackware , skip installing lilo
boot into windows and install grub on floppy :
grub**.exe -b -1 *stage1 -2 *stage2

boot from floppy and enter boot command at
grub prompt for booting your new slackware partition

then you may install grub from /extra directory

This may make it easier: Both grub and parted (but not Gparted) are in the Slackware 12.0 /extra directory. You can install these using the Slackware installpkg command.

I have grub loaded to a separate small partition at the start of my boot drive, but I think you do not have to install it that way if your Linux partition is one of the first four bootable partitions on the drive. If you have Linux installed into an LVM volume in an extended partition on your boot drive or if you encrypt your whole Linux partition with cryptoloop or similar, then I do think you'll need to install grub to a separate partition.

There is a README in /extra/grub on the Slackware 12.0 disc that explains how to install using grubconfig. You can edit the grub.conf file after installation to add other (e.g., Windows) partitions to boot from.

Thank you for the replies. I will try them after wednesday as I am swamped with papers to write for school this week. I will report back on what has happened and if any success how I did it for others to read.

Thanks,
Kyle