Can't boot after installing Slackware 10
 

I just installed Slackware 10.0 on a Compaq Deskpro EN that had been running Windows 2000 just fine. After completing the run of the 'setup' command, removing the bookdisk floppy and CD, and rebooting the system, the boot process just hangs after the Compaq BIOS message "Attempting to Boot From Hard Drive (C: )" appears on the screen.

I can boot from the bootdisk floppy, mount the hard drive, and access the Slackware file system just fine, but I can't boot from the hard drive.

I created a primary partition that was marked as bootable, and a logical partition for swap. These were both created correctly. I took all the defaults while running 'setup', so I assume that lilo was installed and configured properly, but I don't know how to test that it was.

Anyone else have this "does not boot from hard disk after initial install" problem on any older machines?

Thanks.

Did you choose the option to install lilo into the Master Boot Record (MBR)?

I don't remember entering any lilo config info during the setup. I just selected all the packages to be installed, inserted CD 2 when prompted, and that was it. Wouldn't the default be to install lilo into the MBR? If not, can I do this manually using the bootdisk floppy? When I boot from the Slackware 10.0 CD, enter the setup program, and choose the "Reconfigure" option it just pops me back to the top menu.

I should also mention that the system operates normally from the hard drive when booted from the bootdisk floppy.

Thanks.

ADDED:

I think you are correct about the lilo options. I've been reading through Insyte's Slackware 10 Tutorial (http://www.insyte.uni.cc ) and it seems in the lilo section you must choose the "expert" configuration and specifically select lilo to be installed into the MBR.

Now I just need to find a way to do this without performing an entire re-install of Slackware! :confused:

Hmm. if /etc/lilo.conf looks fine, try executing lilo again (it will just reinstall the boot loader into the MBR)... lilo.conf should have:

boot=/dev/hda

if it is supposed to install in MBR i believe.. If it doesn't work post your /etc/lilo.conf

Greets,
--
Maksim Sipos

The following command did the trick! Thanks!


lilo -M /dev/hda mbr