Author: Jeremy Ellman
Email: jeremy@ellman.freeserve.co.uk
Web Page: http://www.ellman.freeserve.co.uk/
Date Submitted: Mon, Jan 25, 1999
Status: New Entry
Requester: Mike Yates
Email: myates@magmacom.com
Request Made: Tue, May 19, 1998
Releases: | all |
Platform: | intel |
Category: | Booting and LILO |
Category Listing: | Booting without installing LILO. |
Hello; I installed redhat 5.0 on my intel based pII computer. It seemed to be proceeding fine, but when it got to 'were do you want to install the bootloader'. A problem arose. I am running a fat32 partition running win98 as my other os (its on the same drive ). So I proceeded to select the 'MBR', didn't add any options and then it came to the 'multiple os's category'. I gave my other bootable partition the labe 'win98', set is as default then simply pressed enter. Well I got an error that simply stated lil o could not be installed, then gave me that all to familiar 'other options'. Well, I asked around and nobody could seem to help me with this problem. It was late so I simply skipped the lilo install (which I realize now was a mistake). I guess my quest ion is, what do I do now?? Any help would be much appreciated ...
There are several ways to boot LINUX if you can't (or don't want to) install LILO on the MBR (Master Boot Record). install LILO on a floppy disk. When asked, you say the location for LILO /dev/fd0. A kernel is copied to the disk too. When you want to boot LINUX, you insert your boot floppy, and restart your system. (Your BIOS setup should have Drive A: as bootable). The advantage of this method is that you don't have to mess with the MBR. It also makes your LINUX partition (somewhat) secure since it can't be booted with out the boot floppy. The disadvantage is that it is slower, since the kernel has to be read from a floppy drive. You've also got to remember where you put the boot disk. LOADLIN is preferable from this point of view. This is a DOS application that loads a kernel (ie starts LINUX) stored in the DOS/WINDOWS filing system. LOADLIN is called by AUTOBOOT.BAT on the Red Hat (at least RH 5.1) installation CD. Copy the LOADLIN.exe to an approp riate Windows directory, and your preferred kernel. You can use one from the Red Hat CD. You should change LOADLIN's arguments to set your filesystem root as /dev/hda2 or wherever else you installed LINUX. Disadvantage of LOADLIN is that you do have to boot DOS first, or "restart the computer in MSDOS mode". You can speed this up on boot by hitting F8 when you see the message "starting Windows 95", and the selecting command prompt only. (I haven't seen Windows 98, but I'd try this there too). Since LILO didn't install run right (as here) I suggest that you prepare little loadlin.bat file which contains this single line: loadlin zImage root=/dev/hda2 zImage is a kernel from the Red Hat CDROM. /dev/hda2 is wherever you put your root filesystem.
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