Install So Bootloader is On Floppy/CDROM No Change to MBR
 

Ok, here is the deal. I want to install Fedora Core 2 on a laptop that already has Windows XP on it, and already has an ext3 formatted partition on it as well. However, I do not want the bootloader to be on the laptop hard drive. The way it would work is that I put the bootloader on a floppy or CDROM, and it then loads Fedora OS from the hard drive. If I do not put this boot media( floppy or CDROM) into the laptop, then it just boots to Windows XP with no mention that Linux is anywhere on the system ( hence I cannot have a bootloader like Lilo or Grub on the hard drive, the Red Hat Logo kind of gives it away in Grub :) ) .

Is this possible? It is like I am booting from an emergency floppy or CDROM except that is the only way to boot the Linux OS, instead of only a backup method.

I wanted to go Knoppix Live CD except that I have the impression I will not be able to add/update programs that are available. Otherwise Knoppix would have been perfect.

I answered my own question. I installed Fedora Core 2 using a boot CD and ftp for the installion files, but wanted the boot loader on a floppy or CDROM.

Well, it warned me about needing to make a boot disk, but never gave me the opportunity to do so. Which is just as well, as the kernel will not fit on a floppy, and there wasn't a burner in the laptop that was my target machine.

After the install, I could not boot into linux as there was no bootloader to start the process. The solution I found was:
boot from the install cd and type "linux rescue" at the boot prompt.
then I told it my install media was from an ftp and gave it the path /login information it needed to get to it.
after it had accessed the install file, it mounted the linux installation I had put on the laptopn hard drive and gave me the root prompt.
I typed "mkbootdisk --verbose --iso --device boot.iso `uname -r` " to have it make an image of a usable boot CDROM for me.
I then ftp's that back to my working Linux workstation, burned it to CDROM, and then booted from it on the laptop.
Guess what? It worked!

Linux rocks, that is all I can say. Now I have my laptop booting XP or Linux without working about a bootloader. Plus I can easily recreate the CD from the image file if I ever need a replacement. The downside is if I can the kernel, I need to make a new boot image/CDROM, but using a rewritable CDROM pretty much solves that problem.


Too bad no one got to help me, but I do hope others who find themselves in my situation find this post and put the information to good use.

Take Care,
:cool:

This is EXACTLY what I want to do with my home desktop PC. I don't want linux touching the WinXP MBR or bootloader. Everytime it does, I cannot get back into XP no matter what I do. I want to do the same thing but I am using Mandrake 10.1 cd's.

Is there an option like that where I can put the bootloader on a cd in Mandrake?

Fortezza-

I am trying to do the same thing on my desktop. I have had the same question as well - it never asked me to make a boot CD - and I don't want grub or lilo on the MBR as this causes my comp to lock up. Thanks for the info. I will try your tips this evening and I hope it works. What is the FTP site or can the image come from the original install cd. If so, I need to know those options. I am "trying" to run Fedora Core 2. Again, thank you....

I have the same problem. But worst, I have others partitions with win2000( in fat32! ;^) )) and others different distros, and lilo is the bootmannager for alls. FedoraC2 have not the possibily to configure lilo in his first sector of her partition, as other distros have!!?? Because this I opted to not configure Grub in MBR, but no possibility to make a floppy disck to posterior boot was made! I configured Fedora2C with CDs, not by FTP. My question: for your sugestion to digit in prompt (of the "Rescue option" ) "mkbootdisk --verbose --iso --device boot.iso `uname -r` ", ist it possible to make a FLOPPY (not a CD boot loader!) DISK to load Fedora2C? Ist it correct if I make: "mkfloppydisk --verbose --iso --device boot.iso `uname -r` ? (And, sorry for the newby question, the `uname -r` ist the exact expression to digit or I have to digit, in its place, the result of this command in an prompt (the kernnel especification) ?? This ist the first question I make to Linux Questions!! . Until today, all my doubts had been answered only searching the posts, and I learned a lot with yours rich orientations!! For this one, unhappely, I dont find, yet, a answer. Thanks very much for any help :)

this is exactly what i would like to do. I am a newbie with Linux....I, too, did not install by ftp. I installed with cd. can you help me with process to do with install cd's?

thanks!

I have Fedora Core 2 and it let me install the bootloader to the front of the linux partition - check your install again, and this time select GRUB like you want it on the hard drive, and on the next page you can select that you'll put it on floppy.

did that(Fedora2)....it never asked me if I wanted it on a floppy....only hard drive.....