Problem With GRUB Boot Loader.
 

Hi There.

After searching for this item, I have found a few people with similar issues, but not quite with the same circumstances.
I'm a fairly new Linux user, so please forgive my ignorance with any of this.

I have set up an old machine (PII 350) to use MEPISLite.

I managed to install correctly (after ages of mucking around), and on reboot I am dumped to the GRUB prompt.
I have managed (a while ago) to find the list of arguments I need to provide to get GRUB to boot into the MEPIS OS, however every restart means I have to plug these in again.

I have tried editing the menu.lst file, but still I am dumped into the GRUB prompt, leading me to believe the file I am editing is the wrong file or something.

If I build this drive in my other machine (P4 3.2) it boots fine, every time into MEPIS.
It is only in this older machine that it takes me to the prompt. I have tried building the disk on the newer machine, and taking it across to the older machine, and still I am dumped at the GRUB prompt when I try to start the thing up.

Why did this happen on a fresh install? I am not dual booting, there should be no issues.

Can someone please shed any light on what I can do to solve this?

Any help is much appreciated.

Since this issue happened originally, I have set this machine up to run WIN98. (works fine and dandy)
Now, I would prefer to set up a dual-boot arrangement on this into win98 and MEPIS (or DSL - either way my issue is the same)
Will this be any easier than what I was trying before? I know it won't be easy, but surely the problem is the same, with the only difference being adding two options to the grub menu rather than the one?
I have set up my other machine to dual boot FC5, so I am not unfamiliar with this idea, however this was a lot simpler process as it is a newer machine, and newer internals.

Please ask any questions if I have not explained myself correctly.

Thanks.
edooze.



Please - don't suggest getting new hardware. I want this computer to work. I do not want to get another one. Everyone I ask with some semblance of knowledge merely suggests this. Please don't.

what did you type at the grub prompt?
why dont you try manually editing /etc/grub/grub.conf and feeding in the right paths.

Does a grub.conf exist in the /boot/grub folder or in /etc/grub? if you are editing the incorrect file, this would be my best bet. Either that or you are not editing the file as root, but you seem to know enough about this whole situation to not do that.

Another possibility is that you have made a mistake in the building of the menu.lst and are being dumped into the console to fix it.

Grub Prompt
 

At the grub prompt I type (something along these lines)

root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz24 root=/dev/hda1
boot

i have the real thing written down at home, but this is near as I can remember.

I couldnt seem to find /boot/grub.conf, however I have not looked for /etc/grub/grub.conf so I will try searching for this.

I have been editing the file as root, so that the commands will remain.

I suppose I was more curious as to why it managed to set itself up correctly with the new internals, but on the old machine it is hosed. Strange, no?

I obtained a GRUB super-boot-disc or some such, but have not been able to figure this out at all.
Does anyone have any experience with this, particularly some experience where it worked for them?

For the record, I have tried this install 5 or 6 times now, and always I get the same thing (GRUB> Prompt) so it must be some part of the hardware....

Thanks.
edooze.