Boot linux at startup by pressing L, otherwise windows

SimEdw · 05-17-2004, 09:04 AM

Hi,

I got a friend that wants to start with linux, but he don't want to get a worser boottime.

He wants that his XP Pro should start just as always, but if he right under the boot press the 'L' key. He wants linux to start.
But he doesn't want a windows showing up with a wait a five secound for autostart of windows(lilo).
And he doesn't want a promt coming up where he can choose "WIN" or "LIN".

I'm not so familiar with bootloaders, is this even possible ?

Best Regards
Simon Edwardsson

qwijibow · 05-17-2004, 09:18 AM

just set timeout to 1 second in the lilo / grub conf file.
that is not long enough for lilo to load its interface, but is long enough for lilo to detect you are hammering the 'L' key with rapid sucession.

although i would rather have a 2 seconds longer boot time that have to keep hitting the reset button because i hit the 'L' key too late when trying to boot linux.

does your friend drink alot of coffee ?
sounds very impatient.

SimEdw · 05-17-2004, 09:35 AM

My friend got a lot of wierd ideas

I don't know if he will be satisfied with that solution.
Can you install and uinstall lilo easy? Even from windows(forgive me for swearing)?
Do he have to install it on masterboot?