Can I Use knoppix to fix Mandrake bootloader?
 

I cannot get Mandrake (latest version) to boot by it self (reference earlier thread by me). Knoppix works fine. I was wondering if I could somehow fix the bootloader from within knoppix and if so exactly how?

I have two harddrives 1st primary master - maxtor 120gb - win 98
2nd primary slave - IBM 40gb - where Mandrake is


Tried both lilo and grub, neither worked. I even got an error when I tried to create a linux bootdisk from the mandrake installer. I am faily clueless when it comes to command line statements within linux. So step by step would help a lot.


PLEASE HELP

esj

Exactly what problems are you getting when you try to boot mandrake? Do you get the lilo or grub boot menu? If not, you did not install the bootloader to the mbr which I believe is the default. If you get the boot menu but the bootup hangs when you select mandrake, where does it hang? More info please.

Im sure that the mbr is changed since win98 does not load automatically.

Depending on the bootloader i get different errors.

Lilo: I get half a screen of 1 and 0
grub: just a black screen


Is there a way to reinstall lilo or create a bootdisk from within linux (knoppix) so that I can boot the already installed mandrake? Again as detailed as possible not to loose me.

thanks

If you have lilo installed on mandrake, you can reinstall it to the mbr using the chroot command in knoppix. Here's how:

1. Boot into knoppix off the cd;
2. Open a console in knoppix and su to root:

$ su

3. That should bring you to a root prompt("#"). Then mount the partition where mandrake is installed:

# mount /dev/hdx

where 'x' corresponds to your mandrake partition;

4. Run your chroot command:

# /sbin/chroot /mnt/hdx

again, where 'x' corresponds to your mandrake partition;

5. Reinstall lilo:

# /sbin/lilo -v

However, you can do the same thing easier using the mandrake install cd1. Just boot off it and hit F1 when you see the initial install screen which will take you to a boot prompt. There type "rescue" w/o quotes and hit Enter. That will take you to a menu with one option to reinstall lilo. Select that one. I'd recommend doing it this way because it's easier. Both methods do exactly the same thing - they rewrite the lilo to the mbr.

I'm not sure how to do grub as I'm not that familiar with it. If you have grub installed, using the mandrake install cd in rescue mode will reinstall it for you if you follow the above.

However, I think something else is going on here. Try the above and see if it works. If not post back with some hardware specs.

Ive tried to do it from the mandrake cd before with the exact same results.

Ive read some posts that say you need to have the linux partition set to "active" before it will boot. How can I check the my slave drive (where mandrake is install) to see if it is set to active? The linix drive is an older IBM 40gb drive. Is there a way to check the stability of the drive (through knoppix), make sure there are no bad sectors?

as for hardware specs:

cpu pent 3 866 mhz
384 mb ram
two hard drives
(hda1 to hda3-win98 partitions on 120gb drive; hdb1 to hdb4 -> mandrake partitions)
sblive sound card
nvidia geforce video card
pioneer dvd rom
zip 250 drive
56 k modem
10/100 lan card using with a cable modem


Thanks once again

Is that zip drive a usb drive or an ide drive? These drive have been known to cause problems, particularly the ide zip drives. Try disconnecting the drive and then redoing the install. I suspect this may be the problem.
Linux does not need to be on an active partition by the way.

it is an ide drive. Is there a way to keep linux from detecting it without manually disconnecting it. does it just need to be disconnected for the install or will I have to disconnect each time I boot?

Thanks

You'll have to disconnect it for the install. If that fixes the problem, you can reconnect and try doing a setup for it in mandrake. I think the mandrake install program is seeing it as a hard drive but zip drives don't have an mbr like hard drives do.

If this works, post back before reconnecting the zip drive and I'll try and help you get the zip drive setup.

Install did not work. Still have the same problem with lilo. Should I try a new distro? Is there a scandisk equivelant in linux that I can use from the rescue disk to make sure the harddisk is still good?

I suppose that you are using a dual-boot setup. You know that you can make a Knoppix Bootdisk using mkfloppy.bat from within the KNOPPIX folder on the CD.

Will a Windows bootdisk enable you to get to your D: drive?

I am a Newbie myself so please don't come back with anything technical as regards Linux, as the answer will be ... I don't know!

I still had the same problem with the bootloaders not working.

Now knoppix will not boot (kernal panic). Is there a way to check the harddrive from the rescue prompt (program like scandisk) to make sure that the harddrive does not have bad sectors on it?

thanks

I think you can use: scandisk /all /surface , from your Windows bootdiskette.

You can also use: scanreg /fix /opt , to repair and optimise the registry, but you probably know all this.

The kernal panic is sometimes fixed by removing the CD, booting to Windows and then re-booting to the CD.

Ok still no luck!

I tried fdisk and scandisk from the dos prompt and neither can see my linux drive.

Knoppix can see all my drives. Does it have any disk tools that I can use to check my linux drive out?


Also still no luck with the bootloader -- any additional hints/tips/suggestions are appreciated!


Thanks

To be honest I really don't know. I would start a new thread at this juncture. I am still learning myself and find that Knoppiw won't see my Eicon Diva ADSL USB modem, so I'll have to try a Thompson SpeedTouch Ethernet modem.

Do you know if you can INSTALL both a USB modem and an Ethernet modem under Windows at the same time to be able to use one of them (ADSL USB modem) with Windows and the other (Ethernet modem) with Knoppix Linux?

Damn it if when I tried by ISP went down and then I couldn't connect (I thought) because they had reverted by password to the original.

Arrggh!

Your problem is really puzzling. Gave it a little thought and wondered if you are running something in win98 that might be causing problems re the mbr. I know if you have GoBack installed it will cause problems. You have to disable it if you want the boot loader to work properly.

As far as checking the hard drives, you can download the diagnostic programs from the manufacturers' websites. Both maxtor and IBM have them. They are much better and much more thorough than any windows disk utilities.