I have dualboot with Slackware 10.0 and Windows 2000 (haven't been used since the install). I want to install Windows XP instead, and then Windows's bootloader will overwrite LILO. How do I repair LILO when I have installed Windows?

my favorite is to use the GAG Bootloader.

It's a very small ISO to make a bootable CDfor installing the bootloader. It's 100% graphical, and simple to use. That way, install Windows and do it's thing.. thenpop in the GAG disc and reboot, it's very self-explainatory and easy to set up.

Of course, once you have that done, if you decide you would rather use good 'ole LILO, than just re-install from inside Slack.

And there's always the "right" way by using a boot-disk which should have been created upon install.. but if you're like me, you probably didn't make one.. so check out GAG.. you'll like it!

okey thanks for that one.

But is it not possible to use the Slackware CDs?

After installing the Windows XP, boot your Slackware Linux from the Slackware bootable CD (first installation CD).

At the boot prompt enter: (assuming your root file system is on partition hda6...be careful to enter correct one)

root=/dev/hda6 ro

Once you are booted into Linux, login as root and enter:

# lilo

This will intall the LILO again...

That's it.

Regards,
Satish.

Essentially, any CD able to boot and installed linux should do.
What I do is as follows:
1) Boot the installed system with a rescue CD (I use Suse "manual installation" method)
2) Ignore any warning and get to the root shell
3) (Possibly) edit linux.conf
4) Type lilo.

Alternatively, it is possible to use any rescue CD, chroot to the mounted disk and do the same.

Hello!

If you have installed lilo on your linux partition and not in the MBR (master boot record), than you should be fine and oyu can use the Slackware CDs.

When installing windows xp the installation overwrites the MBR and makes your windows partition bootable. That is why you boot straight into windows without seeing lilo.

So boot from your slackware cd and use what ever kernel you like (just like you were installing slack) ...usually thats bare.i. When everything boots you must login as root. Then just run : cfdisk

Now all you have to do is change the boot flag of your Linux partition and remove boot flag from your windows partition, save changes (write changes to disk) and quit this program.

now pres ctrl + alt + del for your computer to restart and you should see your lilo again

NOTE: this will only work if you have lilo installed on your linux partition and NOT in the MBR.

I hope that this will help you!
Happy Hollydays

Thanks folks. I have LILO installed on MBR.

|Ok than you have to do what osaku said.

That should work for sure.

I have done it now, but I had to do it in an other way.

The "root=/dev/hda3 ro" didn't work, it said "ro" was no command. Just "root=dev/hda3" did nothing.

This is what I did:

- Mountet my Linux root partition
- Ran "lilo -r /mnt"

Very easy! The "-r" argument defines the root directory.

Just for future reference, nosaku should have said type "bare.i root=/dev/hda3 ro" or rather than bare.i you can type linux or any kernel. The directions are actually printed on the screen right above the boot prompt.

Or after booting with Slackware installation CD,

>>- Ran "lilo -r /mnt"
>>Very easy! The "-r" argument defines the root directory.

Right! You learn a new trick every day!

>>>- Ran "lilo -r /mnt"
>>>Very easy! The "-r" argument defines the root directory.
>
>Right! You learn a new trick every day!

Yes! That's a bit simpler than chroot'ing. I'll use it next time. Thanks, objorkum and piffy.

Thanks for correcting me. In a hurry I forgot to enter bare.i. Thanks again.

Regards,
Satish.