hello, slackers


please give me some ideas

i've got a problem with my newly installed slackware. i've tried several times to reconfigure lilo, but every time it gives me an error of finding the video controller! i tried to choose different frame resolutions, even the recommended one, but it's the same thing - my pc doesn't want to boot at all

maybe i should run the slack with a boot usb and install some drivers for the video options first?

Hi,

Welcome to Slackware® and LQ!

How to Ask Questions the Smart Way would be a good place to start.

Post your '/etc/lilo.conf'. What error?

You need to post information relative to your problem, that includes relative system information. dmesg output that pertains to the problem.

When posting long lists or large information files please use the vbcode tags to allow easier review of the data. You can use the 'QUOTE' and 'CODE' tags at the top of the reply window.

hi, onebuck

no, i'm not configuring like that the lilo.conf, i'm not writing in the file, so i cannot post it.

i'm just in the beginning of installing slack, and it is asking me how to install lilo, i choose "simple mode" and after that i have an option for video frames resolution. but no matter what i choose, it gives me an error of lilo config - "cannot find a video controller", so i cannot boot my pc!

i hope i explained it well that time.

it's just like here:

http://www.slackbook.org/html/booting.html#BOOTING-LILO

should i install some drivers for the video card first?

try expert mode and go through all of the steps. When it asks you about framebuffer console just say "no" for now (vga=normal). You can change it later.

martysha, try choosing the "normal" option. If you can't get it to work through the installer (or through `liloconfig`), try booting your computer and pressing Tab at the LILO screen. Type "Linux vga=normal" and press enter (note that I'm assuming your kernel entry is called Linux, which is the default. You can press Tab at the boot: prompt to see if that is the case). This will boot a standard VGA display without a framebuffer. It should almost always work (though it may be a bit on the ugly side).

Hi,
As others have already stated. Just use the expert mode and setup with the 'vga = normal'. You can change this once you get your system installed. You were not clear in your presentation. You could read the post I referenced on how to ask questions. That will help you in the future to formulate your questions relative to your problems(s).

thank you - it worked i'm very happy about that.


now, after succesfully running lilo, and booting my slack, yes!.... i decided to install windows on the second partition...

and after installing it of course lilo was not working anymore

i was aware that it can happen so i've prepared a usb boot stick especially for that.. but surprise it doesn't work (bios is well configured)

so that evening i will try to repair my lilo

any ideas? i have sda1-slackware sda3-windows sda5-swap

tried to boot with cd and open liloconfig, doesn't work

Obviously not, or you did something wrong while creating the boot stick.

Well. As it has already been mentioned, it would have been really helpful if you had posted your lilo.conf.

Boot your system as explained on the Slackware CDs first boot screen. Then edit your /etc/lilo.conf file:

• Don't change the part that boots Slackware.
• Add another part for windows like that:
  Code:

  # Windows bootable partition config begins
  other = /dev/sda3
    label = Windows
    table = /dev/sda
  # Windows bootable partition config ends

• Run lilo.

Hi,
You should install the M$ Win product first therefore preventing any problems. M$ Win likes to be the first OS. You can fool it but most newbies find the technique confusing.

I would suggest that you first install the M$ product on your first partition then install your Slackware on the other. That way you should not encounter a problem.

You can boot your Linux install with the install cd/dvd. You are given the option at the 'boot:'.

If you don't boot into your system directly from the cd you can still use the cd to fix LILO. After you have booted into the cd as usual login as root and mount your linux partition. You should pick an unused folder or create a folder under /mnt to mount it to

example (change this to suit your situation)
I don't know if you are using ext3 since you never mentioned it or posted your lilo.conf, so again change what you need to.

After your linux partition is mounted you will need to cd into its directory and then chroot. Chroot makes your root '/' the directory you chroot into.
Then you can modify lilo using a text editor such as nano. When you are done simply run lilo. Then you can exit and reboot.

Now you can see why it is generally suggested that you install Windows before a Linux bootloader. Windows always overwrites whatever is on the MBR.

Also, Windows usually prefers to have the first partition on the master hard disk for its system partition. Sometimes Windows can act weird otherwise. For instance, if you have any partitions before your Windows partition that your Windows OS can interpret then it might automatically assign your system drive as D: instead of C:, which can potentially cause problems for programs that assume C: is the main drive. You may not have problems with this, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

Hi,

I would create a unique directory to mount your installation too. That means not to use the '/mnt'. No harm to create '/slacktemp' then 'mount /dev/your_device_with_Slackware_install /slacktemp'.
Then 'cd /slacktemp' and then do the chroot. You can then do a 'cd /slacktemp/etc' and edit your 'vi /slacktemp/etc/lilo.conf'. Make the required changes then run 'lilo' again to update the configuration.

I clarified my previous post. The mount point folder doesn't really matter as long as you know where it is and that it is not being used for something else.

hiii, everyone

guess what? following your smart advices, i succeeded to configure lilo and now i have my slack and my linux both of them booting perfectly! yes! and i feel a little bit smarter also

anyway, now i am still in the beginning, so ... wait for the next big-big problem!

no, i am kidding


thank you again guys! i'll be reading near here. i find it quite interesting, really

Hi,
Just a habit on my part to not use /mnt when using the Slackware install cd1/dvd thus preventing anything from happening. Especially if you are doing something with the install.

As you have said in the past, "There's nothing wrong with being careful with one's equipment".