Knoppix installation...

[Stealth870]

Ok, I got cfdisk to work, and I noticed that the first partition on hdb (hdb1, which I use in Windows for extra storage) is set to boot. I guess I leave it like that? I added the boot flag to hdb5, where the linux installation is and it still wouldn't boot. Do I need to redo that bootsect part?

And can LILO work on the MBR and detect Windows on 1 HDD while Linux on another? And how do I check if the linux install even worked? If it will even boot if the boot settings are correct?

[Markus]

You might as well try running Lilo again after chrooting to hdb5. After running Lilo you need to do the dd command again and copy the new file to C:\.
Can't see what might be wrong here though.

And can LILO work on the MBR and detect Windows on 1 HDD while Linux on another?

That's not a problem for Lilo. I have Lilo in the mbr and it boots fine windows on hda1 and Linux on hdb1.

And how do I check if the linux install even worked? If it will even boot if the boot settings are correct?

Hmm, thougher one. If it doesn't boot I have no idea how to check if it works. If chrooting worked I suppose that something must work on the hdinstall if it ran Lilo on it.

All in all, I think it's a lot easier to just put Lilo in the MBR. If you want it out of there, just boot with a dos or win98 floppy and write "fdisk /mbr" and lilo is gone.

[Stealth870]

And LILO wil check both hdd's & set up a dual boot automatically?

[Markus]

At least it checked them automagically for me and should do it by default.
You can always edit /etc/lilo.conf by hand and ensure it has something for windows as in:

other=/dev/hda1
label="Windows2K"

Always run /sbin/lilo after editing lilo.conf!

[Stealth870]

I cant believe it, I re-installed linux, this time with LILO in MBR, and it still doesn't work! I don't even think LILO works because I get the NT loader screen, but now, my Knoppix choice, if chosen, causes a restart instead of the flashing thing. Windows still works fortunately...

[Markus]

You can delete the line from C:\boot.ini. It won't have any effect now anyway.
Do you have some sort of BIOS protection on the MBR?

Try running lilo again with:
- Boot cd
- open a terminal
- type: mount /dev/hdb5 /mnt/hdb5
- type: chroot /mnt/hdb5/ /sbin/lilo -v
- type: ctrl-d (to exit from chroot)
- reboot

Could you post from your hd-install /etc/lilo.conf?

[Stealth870]

Well, when I do that chroot thing in my console I get the copyright info, then I get this:

Reading boot sector from /dev/hda
Warning: '/proc/partition' does not exist, disk scan bypassed
Warning: Unable to determine video adapterin use in the present system
Using BITMAP secondary loader
Calling map_insert_data
Warning: The bootsector and map file are on different disks.
Mapping bitmap file...(shows directories)->(more directories shown)

and then it has some stuff like:
Boot image: /boot/vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-2.4.26
Mapping RAM disk /boot/initrd.img -> initrd.img-2.4.26
Added Linux*

and it has 3 of those

Boot other: /dev/hda1, on /dev/hda, loader CHAIN
Added Windows(hda1) (Here I dont get, hda1 is the first partition, but windows is on hda2? Must be the main boot thing)

Boot other:/dev/hda2, on /dev/hda, loader CHAIN
Device 0x0300: Inconsistent partition table, 2nd entry
CHS address in PT: 4:0:1 --> LBA (4032)
LBA address in PT: 64260 --> CHS (63:12:1)
Fatal: Either FIX-TABLE or IGNORE-TABLE must be specified
If not sure, first try IGNORE-TAPLE (-P ignore)

Now how do I check my lilo.conf because from Knoppix live CD it says I have no permission...

[Markus]

Device 0x0300: Inconsistent partition table, 2nd entry
CHS address in PT: 4:0:1 --> LBA (4032)
LBA address in PT: 64260 --> CHS (63:12:1)
Fatal: Either FIX-TABLE or IGNORE-TABLE must be specified
If not sure, first try IGNORE-TAPLE (-P ignore)

Sorry, never seen that one before.

To check lilo.conf:
- open terminal
- type: sudo kedit /etc/lilo.conf (use any editor you like)

[Stealth870]

# /etc/lilo.conf - See: `lilo(8)' and `lilo.conf(5)',
# --------------- `install-mbr(8)', `/usr/share/doc/lilo/',
# and `/usr/share/doc/mbr/'.

# Remove this line when you are done configuring. -KK
"! Please edit /etc/lilo.conf before running lilo!"

# +---------------------------------------------------------------+
# | !! Reminder !! |
# | |
# | Don't forget to run `lilo' after you make changes to this |
# | conffile, `/boot/bootmess.txt', or install a new kernel. The |
# | computer will most likely fail to boot if a kernel-image |
# | post-install script or you don't remember to run `lilo'. |
# | |
# +---------------------------------------------------------------+

# Support LBA for large hard disks.
#
lba32

# Specifies the boot device. This is where Lilo installs its boot
# block. It can be either a partition, or the raw device, in which
# case it installs in the MBR, and will overwrite the current MBR.
#
boot=/dev/hda

# Specifies the device that should be mounted as root. (`/')
#

# Enable map compaction:
# Tries to merge read requests for adjacent sectors into a single
# read request. This drastically reduces load time and keeps the
# map smaller. Using `compact' is especially recommended when
# booting from a floppy disk. It is disabled here by default
# because it doesn't always work.
#
# compact

# Installs the specified file as the new boot sector
#
install=/boot/boot-menu.b
backup=/dev/null

# Specifies the location of the map file
#
map=/boot/map

# You can set a password here, and uncomment the `restricted' lines
# in the image definitions below to make it so that a password must
# be typed to boot anything but a default configuration. If a
# command line is given, other than one specified by an `append'
# statement in `lilo.conf', the password will be required, but a
# standard default boot will not require one.
#
# This will, for instance, prevent anyone with access to the
# console from booting with something like `Linux init=/bin/sh',
# and thus becoming `root' without proper authorization.
#
# Note that if you really need this type of security, you will
# likely also want to use `install-mbr' to reconfigure the MBR
# program, as well as set up your BIOS to disallow booting from
# removable disk or CD-ROM, then put a password on getting into the
# BIOS configuration as well. Please RTFM `install-mbr(8)'.
#
# password=tatercounter2000

# Specifies the number of deciseconds (0.1 seconds) LILO should
# wait before booting the first image.
#
# delay=20
timeout=100

# You can put a customized boot message up if you like. If you use
# `prompt', and this computer may need to reboot unattended, you
# must specify a `timeout', or it will sit there forever waiting
# for a keypress. `single-key' goes with the `alias' lines in the
# `image' configurations below. eg: You can press `1' to boot
# `Linux', `2' to boot `LinuxOLD', if you uncomment the `alias'.
#
# message=/boot/bootmess.txt
# prompt
# single-key
# delay=100
# timeout=100

# Specifies the VGA text mode at boot time. (normal, extended, ask, <mode>)
#
# vga=ask
# vga=9
#
vga=normal

# Kernel command line options that apply to all installed images go
# here. See: The `boot-prompt-HOWO' and `kernel-parameters.txt' in
# the Linux kernel `Documentation' directory.
#
# append=""

# Boot up Linux by default.
#
default=Knoppix

image=/vmlinuz
append="lang=de apm=power-off hda=scsi hdb=scsi hdc=scsi hdd=scsi hde=scsi hdf=scsi hdg=scsi hdh=scsi vga=791 quiet BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix"
root=/dev/hda5
label=Knoppix
read-write
# restricted
# alias=1

#image=/vmlinuz.old
# label=Linux-OLD
# read-only
# optional
# restricted
# alias=2

# If you have another OS on this machine to boot, you can uncomment the
# following lines, changing the device name on the `other' line to
# where your other OS' partition is.
#
# other=/dev/hda4
# label=HURD
# restricted
# alias=3

[Stealth870]

Here's the on in hdb5 though...

# /etc/lilo.conf - See: 'lilo(' and 'lilo.conf(5)',
# --------------- 'install-mbr(', '/usr/share/doc/lilo/',
# and '/usr/share/doc/mbr/'.

# +---------------------------------------------------------------+
# | !! Reminder !! |
# | |
# | Don't forget to run 'lilo' after you make changes to this |
# | conffile, '/boot/bootmess.txt', or install a new kernel. The |
# | computer will most likely fail to boot if a kernel-image |
# | post-install script or you don't remember to run 'lilo'. |
# | |
# +---------------------------------------------------------------+

# Support LBA for large hard disks.
#
lba32

# Overrides the default mapping between harddisk names and the BIOS'
# harddisk order. Use with caution.
#disk=/dev/hde
# bios=0x81

#disk=/dev/sda
# bios=0x80

# Specifies the boot device. This is where Lilo installs its boot
# block. It can be either a partition, or the raw device, in which
# case it installs in the MBR, and will overwrite the current MBR.
#
boot=/dev/hda

# Specifies the device that should be mounted as root. ('/')
#
root=/dev/hdb5

# Enable map compaction:
# Tries to merge read requests for adjacent sectors into a single
# read request. This drastically reduces load time and keeps the
# map smaller. Using 'compact' is especially recommended when
# booting from a floppy disk. It is disabled here by default
# because it doesn't always work.
#
# compact

# Default menu for Debian. (Using the images from debian-bootscreen)
# from Philipp Wolfer <[email protected]>.
bitmap=/usr/share/lilo/contrib/debian.bmp
bmp-colors=1,,0,2,,0
bmp-table=120p,173p,1,15,17
bmp-timer=254p,432p,1,0,0

# Install the specified file as the new boot sector.
# LILO supports built in boot sectory, you only need
# to specify the type, choose one from 'text', 'menu' or 'bitmap'.
# new: install=bmp old: install=/boot/boot-bmp.b
# new: install=text old: install=/boot/boot-text.b
# new: install=menu old: install=/boot/boot-menu.b or boot.b
# default: 'menu' is default, unless you have a bitmap= line
# Note: install=bmp must be used to see the bitmap menu.
# install=menu
# install=bmp
install=bmp

# Specifies the number of _tenths_ of a second LILO should
# wait before booting the first image. LILO
# doesn't wait if DELAY is omitted or if DELAY is set to zero.

delay=20

# Prompt to use certaing image. If prompt is specified without timeout,
# boot will not take place unless you hit RETURN
prompt
timeout=50

# Specifies the location of the map file. If MAP is
# omitted, a file /boot/map is used.
map=/boot/map

# Specifies the VGA text mode that should be selected when
# booting. The following values are recognized (case is ignored):
# NORMAL select normal 80x25 text mode.
# EXTENDED select 80x50 text mode. The word EXTENDED can be
# abbreviated to EXT.
# ASK stop and ask for user input (at boot time).
# <number> use the corresponding text mode. A list of available modes
# can be obtained by booting with vga=ask and pressing [Enter].
vga=791

# You can set a password here, and uncomment the 'restricted' lines
# in the image definitions below to make it so that a password must
# be typed to boot anything but a default configuration. If a
# command line is given, other than one specified by an 'append'
# statement in 'lilo.conf', the password will be required, but a
# standard default boot will not require one.
#
# This will, for instance, prevent anyone with access to the
# console from booting with something like 'Linux init=/bin/sh',
# and thus becoming 'root' without proper authorization.
#
# Note that if you really need this type of security, you will
# likely also want to use 'install-mbr' to reconfigure the MBR
# program, as well as set up your BIOS to disallow booting from
# removable disk or CD-ROM, then put a password on getting into the
# BIOS configuration as well. Please RTFM 'install-mbr('.
#
# password=tatercounter2000

# You can put a customized boot message up if you like. If you use
# 'prompt', and this computer may need to reboot unattended, you
# must specify a 'timeout', or it will sit there forever waiting
# for a keypress. 'single-key' goes with the 'alias' lines in the
# 'image' configurations below. eg: You can press '1' to boot
# 'Linux', '2' to boot 'LinuxOLD', if you uncomment the 'alias'.
#
# message=/boot/bootmess.txt
# prompt
# single-key
# delay=100
# timeout=100

# Kernel command line options that apply to all installed images go
# here. See: The 'boot-prompt-HOWO' and 'kernel-parameters.txt' in
# the Linux kernel 'Documentation' directory.
#
# append=""
# Boot up Linux by default.
#
default="Linux"

image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="Linux"
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off nomce"
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.26
label="Linux(2.4)-1"
initrd=/boot/initrd.img-2.4.26
append="ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off nomce"
read-only

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5
label="Linux(2.6)-2"
initrd=/boot/initrd.img-2.6.5
append="ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off nomce"
read-only

# If you have another OS on this machine to boot, you can uncomment the
# following lines, changing the device name on the 'other' line to
# where your other OS' partition is.
#
# other=/dev/hda4
# label=HURD
# restricted
# alias=3
other=/dev/hda1
label="Windows(hda1)"
other=/dev/hda2
label="WinXP/2K(hda2)"
other=/dev/hdb1
label="WinXP/2K(hdb1)"