I know this topic has been discussed many times, but I just don't seem to solve this problem.

I have been trying to install slack 9.1 with win2k3 dual boot on my laptop, but installer always says that it couldn't install lilo on MBR.

The strange thing is that I always have this problem when I install slackware, but with many times of attempts, I usually get to install slack successfully.

However this time, it just keeps repeating the same symptom.

I also have another problem like many of KDE/Gnome components fail to get installed, but this can be avoided by not installing them, and add them later.

I just cannot solve this "lilo MBR" issue.

Any help would be great.

do u have to install ur lilo on MBR?
u can also install it(lilo or grub) on ur boot-partition.
1.install lilo on boot-par.
2.make linux boot floppy disk.
3.restart ur laptop boot with this floppy disk.
4.logon as root under command window(or terminal)
5.#disk -l to show ur disk-partitions to confirm which parttion is ur boot-partition.
we assume it's /dev/hda8
6. #dd if=/dev/hda8 of=/linuxboot.bin bs=512 count=1
to get ur 512 bytes-bootable file.(it will be /linuxboot.bin)
7.send this file (/linuxboot.bin) 2 your win C. you can use your network or mount your WinC if your can.
8.edit your win C:\boot.ini (you'd better restart into windows do this) add a line at end of this file:
C:\linuxboot.bin="My Linux"

btw,some computer have the function not allowed programe 2 write MBR if your not disable it
in your BIOS.

Thanks guys, but my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive so I have no choice and the bios does not prevent program to write.

Hi nobu:

Not sure what procedure you followed when installing Slackware 9.1 so forgive me any duplications and redundancies.

In the installation script when it comes time to load lilo this is what I do and it has always worked. Just follow the steps sequentially:

1. Choose 'expert' mode;
2. Select 'begin' option
3. enter the parameters you nant passed to the kernel - e.g. hdc=ide-scsi
4. select your frame-buffer (mine is: 1024 x 768 x 256)
5. select MBR as the location for lilo
6. select /dev/hda as the partition
7. I usually enter 'none' for this option
8. Back at the main screen, select 'Linux'
9. select /dev/hda1 as the partition for the lilo to be added
10. Give it a name. "Slackware" works just fine
11. Finally, it'll run through a couple of options such as selecting the mouse and the gpm ... and the defaults are usually fine to select.

This takes care of loading LILO on the MBR, and it should concern Win2K3

As for the Gnome and KDE packages - IIRC those are on the second CD

HTH

hey nobu, I had a similar problem when installing slackware on my computer. First I managed to rectify it by booting from my floppy and then starting KDE, kcontrol and in Boot Manager modules, clicking probe and then doing lilo. It worked the first time, but the second time, it just didn't cut it. So the second time I booted from my floppy, did lilo -m /dev/hda, and it worked. lilo -m manually ovewrites the master boot record on the selected device. If you have slackware CD, maybe you can boot from that and dod lilo -m?