Setting up lilo during install to a specific partition

nankura · 03-18-2013, 07:20 PM

hey guys

Ok basically i have 3 hard disks

/dev/sda - windows ( dual boot for gaming )
/dev/sdb - linux hard drive
/dev/sdc - backup data

When i install slackware. i install it to /dev/sdb obviously, i make 2 partitions, 1 for swap, and 1 for the root access with a bootable flag using cfdisk

Now. for some reason when i get to lilo and i select to install to root. the system wont boot, i get a grub error screen

And when i select to install it to MBR, it installs lilo onto the windows sda hard disk

I want to install and run lilo from /dev/sdb, and im wondering how id go about doing that

Dman58 · 03-18-2013, 08:02 PM

Install lilo to the MBR which would be /dev/sda since windows was installed 1st. Configure lilo to boot the / partition from /dev/sdb1 or /dev/sdb2 depending on which is swap and which is / and then add windows to the lilo configuration so you'll have the choice to boot either windows or linux.

zbreaker · 03-18-2013, 08:14 PM

Do not install lilo to sdb as this places it to the mbr of you second disk. Rerun liloconfig and install mbr to sda which should recognize your windows install.....assuming sda to be your boot drive.

catkin · 03-19-2013, 03:22 AM

In your lilo.conf file, add this line in the global section:

Code:

boot = /dev/sdb

In you wanted to be able to boot from sda or sdc after starting to boot from sdb you could also add:

Code:

# Chainloading section
other=/dev/sda
  label = sda
other=/dev/sdc
  label = sdc

EDIT:
To boot from the HDD which becomes sdb when Linux has loaded, go into the BIOS setup screens and change the boot device to the HDD which becomes sdb when Linux has loaded.

Repeatedly pressing some key as the computer boots is the usual way to "go into the BIOS setup screens". Exactly which key depends on which BIOS your computer has. Del or Delete are common.