I am trying to install Mandrake 7.0. I am installing from a store-bought package which has worked previously but I can't remember how I did it.
I am installing to a blank 40Gig hd, 256 MB RAM, and a Duron 1ghz.

I boot from the CD and use auto-allocate to partition the blank harddrive. Everything goes along fine until I reach the Install Bootloader phase.
The question on the screen is...

"Where do you want to install the bootloader?"
There are two choices - -
1. First sector of drive (MBR)
2. First sector of boot partition

I choose 'first sector of drive.
Every single time, I get an error message that says'
Installation of LILO failed. The following error occured:
geo_comp_addr:Cylinder number is too big (2422 >1023)

I click OK and it takes me to the LILO main options which asks me to select a boot device. I am not sure what to do from this point.

NOTE- I have selected the other option at the bootloader phase and it has gotten me nowhere. From either option, I eventually wind up with a 'LILO FAILED' message that won't allow me to do anything else other than reboot and start the whole process over.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

I sshould add, that when I get to the LILO Main Options screen, I am offered about ten options for a boot device ranging from the other hiard drive in my computer which has Windows on it, to the floppy, to the blank hard drive that I am actually trying to install to.
If I am correct, the hard drive with Windows on it is /dev/hda
The hard drive I am trying to install to is /dev/hdc
There are several options for each one and also listed is a /dev/fd0 and a dev/fd1.

I have also left LINEAR unchecked.

I hope this helps! Thanks again!

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...der=descending

These threads may help.

Mjolnir,

Thanks for the post! I tried Expert mode which, somewhere along the way gave me the option to skip LILO so I was able to get to the end.

Here's where I'm a bit lost: I reboot, and there's no Linux option. I only have the option to choose the Windows OS's from my first hard drive, not the Linux from my second hard drive. So I rebooted with the boot disc installed, and everything goes through the stages, but just as Linux is about to start, the disk starts thrashing - the screen blinks on and off and I have to ctrl-alt-delete to get out. It's a real bummer because I'm THAT CLOSE to starting Mandrake and taking my first real steps towards breaking the Microsoft chain. Any thoughts?

I'm sorry dmedici but I don't know how to help you. I am sure
there are people here who can,if you can just catch their eye.

Thanks mjolnir again for your previous help! I'll keep hammering away at Mandrake and see what I can do. I know I'm within striking distance of getting the OS up and running now....