Issue With Lilo I Think

montag · 02-28-2008, 04:45 AM

I am attempting to install Backtrack2 but I am having a slight problem. I think installation went well, but the problem is when I restart I get the following message:

"Disk boot failure: insert system disk".

Here is my fdisk -lu (I booted into the LiveCD)

Code:

Device     Boot     Start     End     Blocks     Id     System
/dev/hda1   *        63     112454     56196      83    Linux
/dev/hda2           112455  1124549    506047+    83    Linux swap
/dev/hda3           1124550 156296384  77585917+  83    Linux

My intention was to have /boot on the hda1 partition, swap for hda2, and the rest on hda3. I think everything was installed correctly, although I am not sure how verify this. I cannot just run the installer again because Backtrack does not have a nice installer where I am simply go the Lilo section and install it again. I booted into the LiveCD and tried typing lilo into the terminal to configure it, but it says "Fatal: creat /boot/map~ Read-only file system". I assume this is because I am in the LiveCD and all of the files are mounted as read only (in order to not permanently change the system). What I want to do is set up LILO on the actual hard disk. Any advice on how to do this?

j. van helden · 02-28-2008, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montag

I am attempting to install Backtrack2 but I am having a slight problem. I think installation went well, but the problem is when I restart I get the following message:

"Disk boot failure: insert system disk".

Here is my fdisk -lu (I booted into the LiveCD)

Code:

Device     Boot     Start     End     Blocks     Id     System
/dev/hda1   *        63     112454     56196      83    Linux
/dev/hda2           112455  1124549    506047+    83    Linux swap
/dev/hda3           1124550 156296384  77585917+  83    Linux

My intention was to have /boot on the hda1 partition, swap for hda2, and the rest on hda3. I think everything was installed correctly, although I am not sure how verify this. I cannot just run the installer again because Backtrack does not have a nice installer where I am simply go the Lilo section and install it again. I booted into the LiveCD and tried typing lilo into the terminal to configure it, but it says "Fatal: creat /boot/map~ Read-only file system". I assume this is because I am in the LiveCD and all of the files are mounted as read only (in order to not permanently change the system). What I want to do is set up LILO on the actual hard disk. Any advice on how to do this?

It's a long time ago since I used LILO, but I remember it had to be installed in /dev/hda. This was done directly by installing the distribution. I believe it is called MBR in Windows circles. Nowadays it's grub which is widely used in Linux circles.
I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but maybe it puts you in the right direction.
j.v.helden

j. van helden · 02-28-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montag

I am attempting to install Backtrack2 but I am having a slight problem. I think installation went well, but the problem is when I restart I get the following message:

"Disk boot failure: insert system disk".

Here is my fdisk -lu (I booted into the LiveCD)

Code:

Device     Boot     Start     End     Blocks     Id     System
/dev/hda1   *        63     112454     56196      83    Linux
/dev/hda2           112455  1124549    506047+    83    Linux swap
/dev/hda3           1124550 156296384  77585917+  83    Linux

My intention was to have /boot on the hda1 partition, swap for hda2, and the rest on hda3. I think everything was installed correctly, although I am not sure how verify this. I cannot just run the installer again because Backtrack does not have a nice installer where I am simply go the Lilo section and install it again. I booted into the LiveCD and tried typing lilo into the terminal to configure it, but it says "Fatal: creat /boot/map~ Read-only file system". I assume this is because I am in the LiveCD and all of the files are mounted as read only (in order to not permanently change the system). What I want to do is set up LILO on the actual hard disk. Any advice on how to do this?

You need to install Lilo in what is called in Windows circles the MBR. In other words /dev/hda.

montag · 02-28-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j. van helden

You need to install Lilo in what is called in Windows circles the MBR. In other words /dev/hda.

I attempted this with...

Code:

 lilo -M /dev/hda

... but I still get the error that it is a read only file system. I imagine that the LiveCD thinks I want to install it on the Live Distro, but what I really want to do is install it on my actual hard disk. Anyone have any suggestions?

CrashedAgain · 02-28-2008, 05:31 PM

What boot options do you have with your live CD?

I used to use Knoppix live CD, you could boot into the HD install from the live CD with the command

Code:

knoppix root=/dev/hda1 noinitrd ro

If your live CD has some similar capability, perhaps you can boot into the HD install from the live CD.

or perhaps you can boot the live CD then chroot to the HD. (I think this can be done although I'm not really familiar with the chroot command.)

If you can get the system operating from the HD you should then be able to install lilo to /dev/hda.

Another thought....perhaps your live CD is mounting the HD read only. You may just have to remount it rw...