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.

Issue

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 ... 

Response


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.


References

(none)