LILO with the NT Loader problem

[floydian_slip]

I'm having a hard time getting my Linux partition to boot from Win2000/NT Boot Loader.

In my Linux install, per some how-to files I read on this, I installed LILO to the /root directory (hdh5), dumped the boot sector to a file, copied it to a floppy, and edited my Windows boot.ini file with the following line:

C:\BOOTSECT.lnx="linux"

I then copied the bootsector file into my Win2000 C:\ directory. The Linux partition shows up in the NT boot loader menu, but when you select it, it just takes you to a black screen with the word "LI".

Does anybody know what is wrong, or if I need to do anything else? :confused: thanx

[fateswarm]

Stop worrying, the expert for NT/XP/2K/Linux affairs is here :)

Ok, keep in mind that the error you got has nothing to do with the windos loader. It is an error you would get EVEN if lilo was installed on the boot disk directly.

So MAKE SURE you have run "lilo" after modifying lilo.conf. You don't do this, you get no lilo!

Also, MAKE SURE you add the correct partition of LINUX at "boot=/dev/XXX" in lilo.conf, or it won't work!

Also, read this again since it doesn't hurt:

=========================
When you come to the Lilo-Section, specify your Linux-root-partition as your boot device because the Master Boot Record (MBR) of your harddisk is owned by Windows NT. This means that the root-entry and the boot-entry in your /etc/lilo.conf have the same value. If you have a IDE-harddisk and your Linux-partition is the second partition, your boot-entry in /etc/lilo.conf looks like:

boot=/dev/hda2

If you have two disks and your Linux resides on the first partition of your second disk, your boot-entry in /etc/lilo.conf looks like:

boot=/dev/hdb1

Run lilo with a kernel that matches your system. Check the kernel by booting from diskette first if you are not sure.

If you cannot boot Windows NT now, you have a problem. I hope you have created a repair-disk recently.
================================

Also, don't leave anything on the howtos. Check your lilo.conf FOR ONCE MORE. If it is necessary take example for another simple lilo.conf.

YOU DON'T HAVE to use an alien lilo.conf. THE SIMPLEST will do or the plain default.

And then run "lilo".

Just run it as root (of course).

Then do the dd=XXX count=512 thingy. This is nothing to be taken seriously. The default procedure of the howto on this is excellent.

- Mike

[ 01 December 2001: Message edited by: FateSWarm ]

[floydian_slip]

thanx for the reply. i followed the steps, and it still doesnt work. when i run lilo, it says "warning hdh5 not installed on 1st disk" the lilo.conf file seems ok, so i'm stumped on this
:confused:

[ 01 December 2001: Message edited by: floydian_slip ]

[fateswarm]

Why is it hdh???????????

It should be hda, hdb, hdc or hdd except in the case you have a dozen of scsi and tape drives etc.

check your lilo.conf if that's the problem(check the "boot=" part) and try again running "lilo".

[fateswarm]

REMEMBER!

lilo.conf should have:

boot=/dev/XXX(and a number)

Where XXX:

hdb, if the *linux disk* is the secondary master


hdc, if it is the primary slave

hdd, if it is the secondary slave.

And, hdd1 is for example the first partition of the secondary slave disk.

Don't forget to add the number of the partition(e.g. /dev/hdb3) as well, where in lilo.conf is the "root=/dev/xxx" entry.

[ 01 December 2001: Message edited by: FateSWarm ]

[fateswarm]

I'll ...finally... add an example.

lilo.conf for /dev/hdc1.

This assumes you have linux on the first partition of the primary slave disk. To see EXACTLY which is your linux partition write "mount" in a console and see where the root directory, i.e. the "/" directory is mounted.

=========================
boot=/dev/hdc1
vga=normal
default=Linux

image=/boot/vmlinuz (or wherever this is! use the default you have)
label=Linux
root=/dev/hdc1
read-only
==========================

Notice, that boot and root entries have the same value, then run lilo. ooof...

Good luck again.

[ 01 December 2001: Message edited by: FateSWarm ]

[floydian_slip]

my hard drives are on raid controllers (i'm not running a raid though, my drive setup is:

IDE 1: CDRW mastered
IDE 2: CDRW mastered

then IDE 3 & 4 are on a Raid Controller:

IDE 3: winme mastered (20 gig hdd)
IDE 4: win2000 slaved (40 gig hdd)
IDE 4a: linux slaved (6 gig hdd)

that is why my linux root part is showing up as hdh5

[fateswarm]

Since it is hdh5, it should be /dev/hdh5 for both "boot=" and "root=". Also, you mentioned Linux is on ide 4a. Make sure this is /dev/hdh5 by running "mount" with no options.

Sorry, I can't help any more since I have no experience on raid devices. Maybe that's the problem and you need specific advice on raid controllers. Maybe a RAID&LINUX howto..

[ 01 December 2001: Message edited by: FateSWarm ]

[bdg1983]

So Linux is on the last possible drive in the ide chain. hda, hdb, hdc, hdd, hde, hdf, hdg, hdh

I'm not sure if adding linear or lba32 to /etc/lilo.conf will help or not.

You may want to try searching Google (http://www.google.com/linux) for something like 'lilo hdg' or 'Lilo raid' etc. and perhaps there is an example of how lilo should be setup.