LILO and MBR with WinXP

a_priebe47 · 07-30-2004, 05:37 PM

I opted to install LILO into the Master Boot Record and now I can get into Slackware fine but when I select Windows, the screen switches over but I just get a blinking '-' in the top left hand corner of the screen. I've read afew solutions, one on a Microsoft website itself. I was just wondering if any of you here have had some first hand experience with this sort of thing. I did set a recovery point just before I started to install Slack so if there is anyway I can get to that, or just edit the /etc/lilo.conf file to point to the right place, that'd be great. I'm fairly sure that XP is on hda1. Thanks for the help.

gbonvehi · 07-30-2004, 05:39 PM

Can you post your lilo.conf?

zsejk · 07-30-2004, 05:39 PM

Could you post the /etc/lilo.conf file?

-zsejk

a_priebe47 · 07-30-2004, 05:43 PM

Code:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
  reset
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
  label = Windows
  table = /dev/hda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/hda8
  label = Linux
  read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

SiegeX · 07-30-2004, 06:21 PM

My best recommendation to you when dual booting Linux and Windows is to let windows have controll over the MBR and use the NT Bootloader to start up Linux! Yes this is possible, all you need is a program called 'bootpart' which can be found here: http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm

However, before you do that, you will need to do two things. The first one is to reinstall LILO into the primary linux partition and NOT the MBR. Once you have done that, you will now need to rewrite the NT Bootloader onto the MBR since you wiped it out with LILO. This can be easily done by booting from your WindowsXP CD and telling it to go into the "Recovery Console". Once you are in the recovery console, simply issue the command 'fixmbr'.

The next time you restart your computer you should boot directly into Windows XP. Once in windows extract the bootpart zip file above and read the included documentation, it's short, very easy to follow and has lots of examples, including one specifically for linux.

After you have done all that the docs say to do, the next time you restart your computer you will be prompted with the NT Bootloader Menu (very similar to the LILO menu) and one of the menu options should be "Linux". Just choose that option and low and behold linux should start to boot.

Another nice feature of this is that if you decide that you want to totally remove linux all you have to do is format the partition that linux is on and it wont mess with your ability to boot into windows.

If you use this method, lemme know how it works out.

a_priebe47 · 07-30-2004, 06:39 PM

I would use the recovery CD's but when I booted the first one up, it said "Continuing will result in loss of all user information" or something like that. I still want to keep the contents of my winxp partition if at all possible. Does your method allow this? Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Do you mean recovery CD's or the actual WinXP install CD? I bought a Compaq and it came with alot of software but no XP CD. It has the product ID key label on my tower but it didn't include the CD so if that's what the method calls for...

SiegeX · 07-30-2004, 06:53 PM

My method does not touch any DATA partitions, all it does is mess with the MBR. I was talking about the XP Install CD. I hate it when OEM computers dont come with the original CD's. One option is to go to www.bootdisks.com and grab a '98 or ME bootdisk and boot from that. Once at the A:> prompt type "fdisk /mbr" and that should also do the trick.

a_priebe47 · 07-30-2004, 07:02 PM

LOL, I'm pissed to this day. I'll give a shot and reply with my findings. Thanks again. Oh, and does it have to be a 98 or ME disk or will XP suffice?

aeNeo · 07-30-2004, 07:17 PM

Do you have LBA enabled on your harddrive? If not, enable it in CMOS, and try to boot into windows, again. And use Lilo.

You should not have to allow Windows to load your duel boot. Lilo works just fine. I'm running Slack and XP =). Besides, Lilo is the easiest route to take without having to mess with creating an image disk and repairing your MBR. Screw that, man!

a_priebe47 · 07-30-2004, 07:27 PM

I couldn't find LBA anywhere, however, I did find an 'Onboard Lan Boot ROM' that was disabled. And I know that this next question will sound (and is) very newbish, but how do you write to floppies?

aeNeo · 07-30-2004, 08:40 PM

Hang back on creating a floppy. I bet you've got an option to enable LBA, just gotta find it. If you select your harddrive (in CMOS), it should give you an option for that. If that doesn't work for you, enter CMOS and note it's version. Then, google a string related to LBA and your CMOS version. You should be able to find something to help you in that department. Here's what I did to duel boot:

1. Enabled LBA for Harddrive 0 (aka hda) in CMOS;
2. Uninstalled Lilo as root, "localhost# lilo -U";
3. Reinstalled Lilo, "localhost# lilo";
4. Rebooted

Bingo, it worked. I've also allowed Windows to manage my boot options, but Lilo is much easier =)

a_priebe47 · 07-31-2004, 12:35 AM

Alright, I found the LBA and enabled it and rebooted but no luck. My BIOS is "Phoenix BIOS Setup Utility" and here were the drives:

Code:

Primary Master [WDC WD400EB-00CPF0-(PM)] (Originally had LBA Enabled)
Primary Slave [Lite-ON LTR-48247S-(SM)] (Manually Enabled LBA)

But when I selected Windows, it still gave me the blinking hyphen. Did the commands:

lilo -U
and lilo

install lilo to my / or did it rewrite it to the MBR? And if I just uninstalled lilo now and rebooted, would I not be able to enter anything or would it just boot Windows?

aeNeo · 07-31-2004, 01:22 AM

Lilo writes to the MBR *not* /. You ran "lilo -U" which removes lilo from the MBR. The command "lilo" writes a new image to the MBR. If LBA is enabled and you wrote a new MBR with Lilo, you should be good to go. Give it a shot, and be sure to have a boot diskette handy just in case =).

zsejk · 07-31-2004, 01:44 AM

I like to be the voice of dimwitted simplicity, so here we go: what happens if you try to re-install LILO using expert mode, and to the MBR (which I have found is the best option for dual-booting slackware and windows XP, at least on my comp). The expert mode should show you exactly what OS is on what partition, and give you the automatic option of adding it to the LILO bootloader or not. Anyway, I managed to forget the exact command (it's late, it's Friday, blablabla), but I think it's "liloconfig" (do a "whereis liloconfig" to make sure it exists before freaking out if it doesn't work).

-zsejk

suslik · 07-31-2004, 11:06 AM

Reading how the original poster has poked at the LILO, if the problem was with MBR, it should have been fixed by now. It starts to look more and more like a WIndows issue, rather than MBR.

take a look at this thread about restoring Windows boot files. It also has links to boot disk images sites.

Unfortunately for you, most of fixing procedures rely on having an actual Windows 2000/XP install disk. Where you can get it - your head-ache