Slack install problem

Darkseid · 02-04-2004, 09:16 PM

I tried to install Slackware from the bootable CD. I set up my partitions and everything was going good. Then Lilo appeared. No matter where I placed Lilo, my computer will boot and nothing will load. Is there a way to fix this problem?

I didn't put in MBR so that may do it but 9.1 install said it would be unstable. I'm now using Mandrake and exploring some more.

Kovacs · 02-04-2004, 09:20 PM

What were the exact error messages? What happens when you try to boot, when does it stop, and what is displayed on the screen?

I always put LILO on the mbr and it's always been fine.

snocked · 02-04-2004, 09:24 PM

LILO on MBR is not unsafe.

Sm0k3 · 02-04-2004, 09:25 PM

i had to put it on my MBR.. the only reason they discourage it is because windows and other boot loaders put it on the MBR, and if you have a windows NT/XP or something like that, you won't be able to access it (without some kind of hefty lilo.conf modification)

Cerbere · 02-05-2004, 02:03 AM

Definitely put it on the MBR. The setup script should handle the lilo.conf for you if you use the expert mode. If this worries you, then just add the following to your /etc/lilo.conf file:

Code:

# DOS bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda3           <<<<-------------Change this to your windows partition
  label = Win2000
  table = /dev/hda          <<<<-------------And this is the disk whose MBR you use 
# DOS bootable partition config ends

Take out the Arrows in this section :-)

Enjoy!
--- Cerbere

Darkseid · 02-05-2004, 08:44 PM

So putting it on MBR as it's the only OS and it should work fine?

I did notice that Lilo won't let Windows boot so I got rid of it. Good ridance.

Sm0k3 · 02-06-2004, 10:33 AM

Lilo will only boot FAT32 (win9x, dos) that i know of, so if you are dual booting between XP, NT, or 2k, you can use their boot manager combined with a utility called 'bootpart' (or if you can find something else, dosen't really matter :-P). I had my linux box dual booting between XP and slackware 7 back in the day, now my box be slackware 9.. but anyway:

if you are trying to dual-boot windows NT/XP/2k you might wanna check this out
http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm

otherwise, if linux is your only OS, just put lilo on the MBR and let 'er rip

Misel · 02-06-2004, 12:52 PM

Lilo can boot Windows 2000 just fine on my system with the following part in lilo.conf

Code:

other=/dev/hde3
    label="Windows"

I've heard about this table=/dev/hdx thing but it doesn't appear to be necessary on my system. I also "stole" this code from KDE's lilo-config part of kcontrol

CryptDragoon · 02-06-2004, 02:33 PM

Same here I have Windows XP home + Slackware + LFS LILO is install in the MBR where it should be!

It's not like you can't restore the Windows MBR if something goes wrong
just boot to DOS with a bootdisk and run fdisk /mrb reboot and your fine!

Darkseid · 02-07-2004, 04:41 PM

Thanks for the help. Too much info about Windows but may come in handy. I have given up on Windows due to bugs and DLL errors. Install one thing and the rest goesto heck.

Thanks.