I broke Lilo, Still Able to boot from the Rescue Disk

halfpower · 07-03-2006, 08:52 PM

I am no longer able to boot Linux with Lilo. When I boot from Lilo I get some message about having "kernel panic" and some problem with "8:11." I can still boot from the rescue disk by typing the commands "mount root=/dev/sdb1 ro", so I imagine this problem couldn't be too difficult to solve. My /etc/lilo.conf file looks like the following

Code:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
append="mount root=/dev/sdb1 ro"
boot = /dev/sda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
  reset
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
#
# End LILO global section
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/sda1
  label = Windows
  table = /dev/sda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/sdb1
  label = Linux
  read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

I am using two SATA drives. WinXP is on one and Slackware 10.2 is on the second. I've tries reconfiguring Lilo many times and I'm ready to give up, for today at least. Does anyone know how I properly configure Lilo?

Bruce Hill · 07-04-2006, 10:07 AM

Why don't you install LiLO in the MBR of /dev/sda. In that case your /etc/lilo.conf should look something like this:

Code:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/sda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
#
# End LILO global section
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/sda1
  label = Windows
  table = /dev/sda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/sdb1
  label = Linux
  read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

After changing /etc/lilo.conf, issue as root "lilo -bvt /dev/sda" (b=specifies the Master Boot Record; v=increase verbosity; t=test)
If you get no errors there, then remove the t and issue as root "lilo -bvt /dev/sda" which will then install LiLO in the MBR of /dev/sda.

You will be booting Slackware from it's root partition, /dev/sdb1 and Windows from it's /dev/sda1 partition. I run 2 SATA drives in this box.

To boot with the CD at the boot prompt issue "sata.i root=/dev/sdb1 noinitrd ro"