Having trouble configuring LILO =[

bowie1010 · 12-20-2008, 10:49 AM

Hi All,

I'm having a little trouble setting up LILO. Basically there's two options on boot up; Windows and Linux. I want to remove the Windows option completely or change the order so that the Linux option is selected by default.

The problem that I'm having is that when I alter the file /etc/lilo.conf it doesn't seem to have any effect whatsoever. Even changing the timeout attribute has no effect.

I'm running Slackware 12.2. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Nikosis · 12-20-2008, 11:01 AM

Welcome to Lq

in /etc/lilo.conf

Code:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
# Append any additional kernel parameters:
append=" vt.default_utf8=0"
boot = /dev/hda
default = Linux    < --- New line
# Boot BMP Image.
etc,etc...

I forgot to mention
run lilo from command line after putting new line in lilo.conf.

brianL · 12-20-2008, 11:12 AM

If you're using KDE, at the Konsole prompt enter:

Code:

kdesu kwrite /etc/lilo.conf

then root's password.
Just delete the Windows entry if you want to get rid of it. Or copy, cut, and paste the Slackware entry above it.
Then, as root, run:

Code:

lilo

bowie1010 · 12-20-2008, 11:16 AM

Thanks for the speedy response Nikosis. I've altered the file to include that now. But it doesn't have any effect. Anything that I alter doesn't have any effect. I'm altering the file /etc/lilo.conf this is the correct file isn't it?

I've commented out the Windows section near the bottom and it still shows on bootup. I've even tried changing the timer, but nothing happens.

I must be doing something wrong but I just can't figure out what. Anyone know what it could be?

Thanks.

Nikosis · 12-20-2008, 11:23 AM

Did you run

Quote:

lilo

from command line after you made those changes

bowie1010 · 12-20-2008, 11:23 AM

Thanks guys. Got it sussed now. What exactly was the lilo command doing. Thats the part I was missing. Just curious as to what it was for.

Thanks again.

Nikosis · 12-20-2008, 11:27 AM

reloads new config into MBR

gnashley · 12-20-2008, 11:41 AM

lilo stores its' configuration in binary form right in the MBR along with the actual binary program. Any time you make changes to the conf file, you have to re-run the lilo command to re-write the MBR with the new conf info. Once written, the lilo.conf file is not used again until you run the lilo command again.

bowie1010 · 12-20-2008, 01:48 PM

Thanks for the help guys. You'll be seeing me around quite a bit from now on I should imagine =]