SlackwareThis Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
This really isn't a Slack issue, so much as a LILO issue, but here goes. I'm trying to set up Lilo to boot to Linux by default (the system in dual boot with Win98 and Slack 9.1. LILO works fine, but it won't boot to Linux by default. I've added "default=Linux" just before the "prompt" line and "lba32" (but I'm not sure it's in the right place. I've run LILO after every change I've made, but with no luck. I had it booting to Linux by default on a previous installation, but my notes on what I did are woefully sketchy. Below is my lilo.conf. If someone could just take a look to see if I missed something, I'd be grateful. I do a lot of web design (with Quanta Plus!) and I know that sometimes it takes an objective view to find the little things that may have been missed.
Thanks for your assistance.
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda3
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
lba32
default = Linux
prompt
timeout = "1200"
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
vga = 773
# 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
# DOS bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Dos
table = /dev/hda
# DOS bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda3
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends
Reverse the order in which you have the Linux and Windows entries in Lilo.conf.
Thus
Code:
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda3
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# DOS bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Dos
table = /dev/hda
# DOS bootable partition config ends
and that should mean that Linux boots first. (oh, and don't forget to run lilo before the reboot)
Thanks, people. Unfortunately none of those suggestions seem to do it. I don't know what the problem is. It's almost like there are two distinct lilo.conf files and I'm editing the wrong one. I know this is impossible (?), but I've seen it happen with web pages before. I struggle to fix a page and realize the browser is viewing an unedited backup or something. This is why I wanted a second opinion. It's almost maddening. Fortunately for me, I'm already mad. One thing of note is that I changed the label on the "DOS" drive to "Windows98." When I run LILO, it displays "Added Linux *" "Added Windows98", so something's getting through. I'm stumped. There's got to be something up with my previously posted lilo.conf, but damned if I know what.
Well, that was it. I knew it was something in the code. When I was prompted to install LILO, I drew a blank as to where I installed it the last time ("MBR (possibly dangerous)" sounds so ill-boding, I guess). Thanks, egag, and everyone else ,too. This forum has once again saved my sanity (oh ... wait... too late for that). All is well with my (computer) world once again. Forums rock! You people rock!
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.