No LILO after installing Red Hat 9.0..............?

Theoutdoorsman · 09-30-2003, 08:02 PM

Hi all,

LILO was not installed for some reason and I have to boot with a floppy every time I want to run Red Hat Linux v9.0. Does anyone out there know of a workaround for this? How can I load LILO at boot so I can choose between my Red Hat and Windows OS's without the need for the floppy? Thanks for any and all help in advance.........................ALAN

jailbait · 09-30-2003, 09:25 PM

"How can I load LILO at boot so I can choose between my Red Hat and Windows OS's without the need for the floppy? "

You create a file called /etc/lilo.conf. then you run the command:
lilo
and lilo will install itself on the MBR.

Here are some instructions on lilo:
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/LILO.html

Also you could get some pointers by looking at the file called lilo.conf on your boot floppy.

simplico · 09-30-2003, 10:11 PM

also, the cd should be able to reinstall the bootloader. put the cd in at startup and press F1 or something for more options and then rescue. This is what works for mandrake so i think it should work for RH as well.

Theoutdoorsman · 10-01-2003, 02:54 AM

Hey "jailbait", the file you mentioned already exists...............?

And "simplico", when I booted with the cd, I chose the upgrade option and selected the LILO boot loader. Afterwards, in the post install stage, it returned this message..................

"No kernel packages were installed on your system. Your boot loader configuration will not be changed."

.........................................???????

simplico · 10-01-2003, 07:13 AM

Boot with the CD again, but this time, do an "Upgrade", and tell it "yes, I want to customize it". Then make sure a bootable kernel is
selected.

Theoutdoorsman · 10-01-2003, 03:13 PM

Can you define "Bootable Kernel" ? Thanks...............ALAN

simplico · 10-01-2003, 04:55 PM

i searched google and that is what the site said. i use mdk 9.1. that same issue is why i stopped using RH a while back. I could never figure how to get the bootloader setup, and so i switched to mdk 9.1, which is a lot easier for a beginner, like myself, to use.

Theoutdoorsman · 10-01-2003, 08:23 PM

Hey "simplico",

I looked at the available kernel's in the upgrade process and I'm unsure as to which one I should select. The available options are:

kernel-bigmem
kernel-BOOT
kernel-pcmcia-cs
kernel-smp

Thanks,
ALAN

KevinJ · 10-01-2003, 08:54 PM

Okay... I think grub is supported in Mandrake. Use that.. not LILO.

install the grub rpm and then you need to configure your /boot/grub/grub.conf file. If you post the contents of the "syslinux.cfg" from your bootable floppy, we can probably help you make one.

-K

jailbait · 10-01-2003, 08:55 PM

This is probably what the kernels are:

kernel-bigmem (your computer has an unusually large amount of memory, say over 4096 Meg)

kernel-BOOT (generalized kernel)

kernel-pcmcia-cs (your computer boots from a pcmcia card)

kernel-smp (your computer has two or more CPUs)

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Theoutdoorsman · 10-01-2003, 11:07 PM

So your saying I should select the "kernel-BOOT" option then.........right?

Thanks,
ALAN

Theoutdoorsman · 10-02-2003, 04:20 AM

Alright....... I installed the "kenel-SMP" because, on the installation disks in setup, it told me "kernel-BOOT" was not recommended for installed systems. And...........It didn't work. I still have NO bootloader installed. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Alan

KevinJ · 10-02-2003, 02:06 PM

Well, I suggested GRUB, but if you are set on LILO, and that rpm is installed already, then post the contents of the syslinux.cfg file on your boot floppy and we can probably get a lilo.conf that will work for you.

-K

chinmay nautiya · 10-02-2003, 02:39 PM

Hello Theoutdoorsman,
u r telling that u have installed LILO while installing RHL. but its not working. first check check u r haing the file /etc/lilo.conf. if it is present then boot from floppy and login as root. open a terminal window and write -
#lilo
u must see a LILO bootloader at startup.
If the file /etc/lilo.conf is not present then ask me. how to create it.
bye.

Theoutdoorsman · 10-02-2003, 04:00 PM

Hey all,
I ran the command "LILO" in terminal as suggested by "chinmay nautiya" and learned I needed to force LBA32 during setup. Just for the record, KevinJ, I also went with GRUB just because not only you suggested it but because I felt like I should try something new and learn some more. Anyhow, everything works like a champ now. Once again, many many many thanks for all the helpful information I'm gathering on the boards!!!!!!! You guys are the best!!!!!!!

Thanks again,
ALAN