LinuxQuestions.org
Review your favorite Linux distribution.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware
User Name
Password
Slackware This Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 08-24-2011, 09:40 AM   #1
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
mbr question


So me like a dumb ass left the mbr on the "primary" drive. Now I want to get rid of that drive but I cant because my OS is in the secondary drive and wont boot without the primary (what a cluster f!@k). If I boot of the slackware cd and run lilo -M /dev/sdb and create a new mbr with lilo would this help me or would it fubar my current config?

Thanks for the help.

Last edited by SeRi@lDiE; 08-25-2011 at 10:19 AM.
 
Old 08-24-2011, 10:53 AM   #2
ecki_
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jul 2011
Posts: 7

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
What I usually do in this situation is, that I prepare the target situation first, then boot from a CD and install the boot loader.

So, first remove the primary drive and boot from the Slackware CD. From there edit /etc/fstab and /etc/lilo.conf on your previous /dev/sdbX (which now should be /dev/sdaX), and then execute lilo to install the new boot block.

The reason for this is, that lilo examines the _current_ situation and translates /dev/sdXX to the actual BIOS drives. This translation wouldn't be valid anymore after you remove the former primary disk.

If something goes wrong you should always be able to plug the former primary disk back in and get at least into single user mode of your OS to edit /etc/fstab again (after mounting the root disk read-write).
 
Old 08-24-2011, 01:58 PM   #3
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
Thats the general idea I have I was just not to sure if lilo -M would be the correct command.

Thanks for the reply.

I am open to more ideas and thought's as well.

TIA.
 
Old 08-24-2011, 02:02 PM   #4
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
Try to keep your posts clean of bad language as best you can. This forum is supposed to be readable by all people.
 
0 members found this post helpful.
Old 08-24-2011, 02:06 PM   #5
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H View Post
Try to keep your posts clean of bad language as best you can. This forum is supposed to be readable by all people.
While I some what agree.... I have to say "Welcome to the year 2011" . Please try to PM next time...
I know is not Friday yet :P
Thanks.

Last edited by SeRi@lDiE; 08-24-2011 at 02:12 PM.
 
Old 08-24-2011, 07:52 PM   #6
syg00
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Distribution: Lots ...
Posts: 21,103

Rep: Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117
I haven't used lilo in forever, so can't answer your general question, but you might simply try changing your BIOS boot drive, boot a liveCD (Slack or other), and chroot into your normal system.
Run lilo from there - your new disk will be the primary.
 
Old 08-25-2011, 06:06 AM   #7
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
Install lilo to the MBR of the primary booted HDD.
 
Old 08-25-2011, 06:25 AM   #8
markush
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: Germany
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 3,979

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
It would be important to know if you're computer has IDE or SATA drives!

Markus
 
Old 08-25-2011, 07:51 AM   #9
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by markush View Post
It would be important to know if you're computer has IDE or SATA drives!

Markus
Markus,

It has sata drives.
 
Old 08-25-2011, 08:16 AM   #10
markush
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: Germany
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 3,979

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Well, I have a Computer at home with two identical SATA-drives, /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. When I once had problems because grub had damaged my MBR of sda I installed lilo without any issues in the MBR of /dev/sdb.

You can learn here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...he-mbr-850261/ what happened and what I did in order to solve the issue.

I don't know if this is exactly the solution for your problem, but at least this thread will provide you with additional information related to your issue.

hope this helps

Markus
 
Old 08-25-2011, 08:38 AM   #11
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by markush View Post
Well, I have a Computer at home with two identical SATA-drives, /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. When I once had problems because grub had damaged my MBR of sda I installed lilo without any issues in the MBR of /dev/sdb.

You can learn here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...he-mbr-850261/ what happened and what I did in order to solve the issue.

I don't know if this is exactly the solution for your problem, but at least this thread will provide you with additional information related to your issue.

hope this helps

Markus
Markus,

Thanks for your reply. Your post was helpful. I will try and fix all this tonight and if anything goes wrong (Hope not :P ) than I guess ill have to start all over again. Is all my fault any ways.

To All Thank You!
 
Old 08-25-2011, 09:08 AM   #12
markush
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: Germany
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 3,979

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
mh, I think I have forgotten to write the most important point

Look in the BIOS, make sure that both SATA-drives are bootable devices.

Markus
 
Old 08-25-2011, 09:16 AM   #13
SeRi@lDiE
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: /dev/null
Distribution: Slackware 13.1, Slackware 13.37, aptosid, rhel
Posts: 547

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 7

Rep: Reputation: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by markush View Post
mh, I think I have forgotten to write the most important point

Look in the BIOS, make sure that both SATA-drives are bootable devices.

Markus
That's been covered

Thanks.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Which program can boot a copy of the MBR (fake MBR) using mbr.bin Xeratul Linux - Software 6 12-03-2010 11:40 PM
do not write to MBR question obnascar Linspire/Freespire 6 10-03-2006 08:56 PM
MBR question shammax Linux - Newbie 5 05-01-2005 10:12 PM
Not your regular GRUB question - just a short question for a fried MBR!! ziphem Linux - General 3 01-31-2005 01:51 PM
MBR question... Thymox General 7 05-23-2001 06:23 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:02 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration