Linux boot question (lilo)

vexer · 05-06-2005, 03:41 PM

I have an old compact (< sarcasm>YAY!< /sarcasm>) and I installed slackware. When I decided to install lilo, I chose to install it to the root partition, but failed to set the device bootable (in cfdisk). My question is, can I set the drive bootable without needing to format it? And if I can't, how can I instruct lilo to install itself into the MBR?

Artanicus · 05-06-2005, 04:53 PM

You can change the bootable flag with fdisk without needing to format.

If you want to redo the install portion where you install the bootloader, just run liloconfig as root.

vexer · 05-06-2005, 06:48 PM

I was successful in turning /dev/hda6 (root partition) into a bootable partition. But when I reboot, my system gives me an error and asks for a system disk.

Did I omit a step when setting up lilo to root? I only did the steps in liloconfig and that was all for the setup.

masonm · 05-06-2005, 07:36 PM

Unless Lilo is installed to the MBR you don't have anything to boot the system. You'll need to install it to MBR or use a boot disk to start the boot process.