i am a newbie trying linux

my HDD 80 GB, 40 GB for WIndows (2 partition) and 40 GB for mandrake 10.0 . where i put boot loader? in MBR or first sector of root partition? i confuse with bootloader, in summary there are sda, sda5, sda6,sda7,sda8, where should i put LILO?

help me please, thanks before

Welcome to LQ acmal,

The bootloader is the thing that boots up whichever operating system you choose. If you don't already have a Linux on your computer and only have Windows, you should install the bootloader to the MBR (Master Boot Record) of your hard drive. There are loads of threads here on LQ about setting up dual boot systems with either lilo or grub.

To install the bootloader to the MBR you would install it to /dev/sda.

Find out as much as you can before doing anything though, the last thing you want is an unbootable system. Maybe get hold of a Live CD too, just in case.

Hope you enjoy Linux
Have fun

John

thanks jhon, i will do it soon

thanks john i will do it soon

i have tried it, but when linux booting, it halt at Starting ALSA Version 1.0.2c process. i reboot my pc by pressing power button, but it happen again. what the fault??

Not sure about that, don't you get any errors?

no john, installing process running well.maybe the error at my HDD?