Slackware fails to boot after instalation.
 

Hello, this is my first time trying to use linux. I decided to test it out on virtualpc before i attempted dualbooting it with winxp. After going through the instalation and choosing all the newbie friendly options I reboot and it stops after post, it just hangs there with a cursor blinking, but i am unable to input anything. During the last steps of the instalation the first time i tried installing LILO to the boot sector (i think, it was option 1) and the second time i didnt install it. Both times i used the ?bare? kernal from the cd iso i downloaded.

thanks for your time,
adam
slackware 8.1 iso

To help you in trying out linux, I would suggest actually trying to use a different distro. Maybe www.mandrake.com would be one for you to try.

Good luck ;)

i would rather figure out this one, if at all possible : )
thanks for your suggestion though,

adam

It might be because it's a virtual PC, but try installing it (it being LILO) to the MBR if you can do that in the VPC.

I suggest that because Slackware is sometimes harder to learn on, and it will sometimes give new users to Linux a "bad taste" because they don't understand how to make things work for them. The link I gave you up there is a link to a more "newbie" directed distro. It's not any less Linux than Slackware, in fact they both have alot of the same programs and features, but the one above is usually easier for a newbie to install and learn with. Then once you get familiar enough with how things are setup, and things of that nature, then the transition to a more "configurable" and less "bloated" distro like Slackware is much easier.

It's like learning karate, if you start out trying to train with the black belts, it's going to be VERY hard for you, and you might think it's not worth the work. But if you start out with a white belt, and progress, learn, and advance, then once you are ready to move up to black belt, it's not nearly as hard as if you had chosen the other route. But it's all still going to teach you karate in the end.

If you really are simply wanting to "figure" this one out, you may want to do some reading. Check out the tutorial over at www.linux.org and follow the lesson all the way through. There are also other sites with good info like that, but that's my personal favorite. This site as well (Linuxquestions.org) will have TONS of info for you, but you will have to read up on alot of it, especially since you are going to try to apply any knowledge gained to a Slack setup.

The bare.i kernel shouldn't matter at the point you are having problems at, it's LILO that you will need to concentrate on to move forward into the dive for Linux. Get that part setup so that you can at least boot your system, then you will find out what other things you will need.

Try installing into the MBR, and if that doesn't work, make a boot floppy, and see if that route helps.

Cool

Thanks again for your time, the reason I was some what adamant about slackware is i wasnt wanting to use a "microsoft like" distro of linux and i have been reading that if "you learn slackware, you learn linux." If I cant get this to work after reading a couple articles i will try the other distro...looks like another 40 hours of dling on my 56k connection : )

adam

As MasterC suggested try installing LILO on a floppy and booting from a floppy. I think LILO is not working for you because you are trying it on as virtual PC which, as far as i know, has no MBR and LILO gets confused. So a boot floppy might be the solution. You are given the option to make a boot floppy during Slackware LILO installation. You can also invoke lilo setup with liloconfig command but you have to boot the OS first to use this. So i suggest you try once more installing Slack on the VirtualPC and choosing floppy as LILO installation.
Hope that helps
-NSKL

I suggest that you begin by reading the Slackware_Essentials book.
(Although it is still oriented to Slackware8.0, it is mostly valid. It will be soon upgraded to 8.1 as well.)

http://www.slackware.com/book/

Additionally, the text files included in the Slackware-8.1 directory are very helpful. (BTW, the "Book" is included with the 4-CD purchase from the Slackware Store - as well as the Newbie-cherished live CD Rescue-Disk.)

Also, general Linux-specific HOWTO's and Guides can be found at the Linux_Documentation_Project.

http://www.tldp.org

You are correct, learning Slackware is great for learning Linux.
Slackware has been my first and only GNU/Linux distribution. The default Slackware installation will not fail a Newbie, and it is almost UNbreakable. :)

Thank heavens for all these great help forums on the Internet and for the #slackware channel at OpenProjects IRC server (aka FreeNode now)!!!

I think option one is the root of install partition.
which of course everyone is saying no...which is right, that is not what you want.
You are right---installing linux is the best way to learn how to install linux. I never had trouble until really I was more experienced, probably because I used red hat, and also read for like three days before I did anything . Now I am kind of like---well, I will just reinstall if it gets hosed.
(and I have.)(jeez.)
SOme times the How tos are written...obtusely...and searching this site in particular is faster and clearer.