I ske this question because, i have compaq presario system winth windows XP home. I installed slackware with Lilo inthe MBR and the pc didn't work untill i restored widows to the last known restore point after which Lilo doesn't work again.

If installing Lilo into the MBR isn't working and i not willing to be booting from a disck, what does that mean ? That I cannot run dual boot on my system? Well if that is the case i want to know so that I stop spending my time in trying to make it work.

Yes, I was able to succesfully install, configure and (somewhat) run Mandrake 8.2 on an ancient Compaq Presario 4814 running Windoze 95 back several years ago. Of course, since most of the hardware was proprietary(including the embedded sound) and the winmodem, I wasn't able to confugure them. But I ran KDE with no problem and I got introduced to Linux with it.
Personally I'd advice you to not do it, since you will run into numerous problems (as you did already) and most likely your hardware will not be configurable under Linux. But that's only MY experience. As I understand, people have succesfully used DELLs and so on.
My personal recommendation is to build a PC specifically designed for Linux, as you carefully choose hardware to make sure Linux will recognise it so you won't have to tear your hair out and get all upset when your sound card is not recognised.
I do not know exactly what it means if LILO won't work from the MBR. There can be various things responsible. Sorry. What distro are you using?
Maybr you can try reinstalling again and make notes of everything you are asked to do and all the actions you take.

I did it on a 5712 numerous times. Nothing gave me problems ever - the onboard video was supported by the i810 module and the sound worked fine, but I'm not sure by what. I had cable at the time so I didn't worry about the modem.

Hmmmmmmmm.... Ive had several Compaqs. Couldnt get mandrake to even install
on any of them. Lots of proprietary hardware.

I've installed Linux succesfully on:

Custom made computer (of course
Dell OptiPlex GX1
HP Pavilon 503n
HP Pavilon 502n
Compaq Presario (Cannot remember the exact model #)

Wasn't any different, really... Hardware was a little more difficult to setup *cough* sound *cough* :-)

I put TurboLinux on my Compaq Presario 1275 as a dual boot with Windows 98 about five or six years ago. The only problem was not to install X Windows along with Linux. Once I had Linux installed I then installed X Windows. I was unable to put Linux, or use Partition Magic on an HP laptop four years ago since their backup method created a drive in front of C: (hda) which totally confused Linux and Partition Magic. At LinuxWorld about two years ago another individual indicated they had had the same problem with HP. Since I use the Compaq rarely I can't assure that all devices work but running Linux as command line works fine.

So what are the steps you take to install Slackware?

Do Compaqs still have that pesky special diagnostic partition? Maybe that is giving you trouble.

Well it looks quite bleak really. Yes there is that diagnostic partition and trouble is you cannot delete it. PC won't run at all. I I deleted it and I had to restore it because the PC didn't boot. Well any way it looks like untill I can buy a new PC fit for linux it will be adios for now!

it's been done. google has lots of info.. search something like this: 'compaq presario linux install hidden partition '

or this
http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte657q/laptop.html

I have a compaq presario 7970, and I had mandrake 8.2 dual booting with win 98, and now have mandrake 9.2 with win 98 on it with no problems.

mysterio, do you have that compaq hidden partition thingy on your on your HD?

The problem is with the extra parititon. You can:
Figure out what the configuration is and adjust LILO accordingly (ie, does it boot from the compaq partition then to windows, and can you set lilo to boot the compaq partition?).
Use the Windows bootloader to dualboot.

Not sure if I do, I'm not on my windows box right now. How would I check? If fdisk shows it then I know I don't have it, if it doesn't then let me know how to find out.

i didn't have any troubles with my presario 5300 series running xp and linux. The trick was that i had to wipe out all the partitions and install both xp and linux from scratch, not using any recovry cd, but an original xp cd
doh!

and concerning propietary hardware, the only thingy never worked it was the winmodem, which i changed for a conexant one. Recently i found pctel winmodems have a new driver which claims to work on newer kernels... but that's another story

Cheers!

The 2 Compaqs that I worked with that had these showed up with any fdisk type program. It is not really hidden or anything, just sort of unexpected.
The first thing I did before messing with the older Compaq was to make a copy of that partition.