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vmantunes
08-11-2002, 09:45 PM
OK, I have created my bootdisk using Method 2 described in this NHF (http://linuxnewbie.org/nhf/Booting_Your_OS/How_To_Create_a_Boot_Disk_in_Linux.html). I tried to test it but am not sure if its working.

I have been trying to create a multi-partition system while following this NHF (http://linuxnewbie.org/nhf/Installation/How_to_Create_a_Multiple_Partition_System.html). I am now close to finishing but one of the final steps is to use the bootdisk to go into fdisk and re-partition before finally inflating my archives into the newly partitioned space.

Here is my /etc/lilo.conf:

...
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.7-10
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.7-10.img
read-only
root=/dev/sda
...

The bootdisk contains this:
boot.msg initrd.img ldlinux.sys syslinux.cfg vmlinuz

The /syslinux.cfg file contains this:

default linux
prompt 1
display boot.msg
timeout 100
label linux
kernel vmlinuz
append initrd=initrd.img root=/dev/sda2

I tried to provide enough info, I hope it helps.

Also, I will need to bring the archives from a MS Windows partition which is on a different server. The NHF says "I need to make sure to get a bootdisk that will allow me to mount Windows partitions so I can access the data once I am done."

Is all this info correct in order to properly use my bootdisk?? If so, what am I doing wrong when booting up with the bootdisk??
mdwatts
08-12-2002, 02:55 AM
What distro/version are you attempting to install?

Can you not just boot from the installation cd, select 'Expert Mode' to allow you to customize the way you want your partitions and then continue on with the installation?

Most distros give you the option of creating a bootdisk during the installation.
vmantunes
08-12-2002, 03:09 PM
Sorry about that.

The OS is already installed. I'm re-partitioning after the initial install. The distro is RedHat Linux 7.2.

And, NO i will not reinstall the OS (unless i screw this up terribly). There has to be a way of doing this and I want to learn it.

Thanks
mdwatts
08-12-2002, 05:00 PM
Redhat should include a script to make a working bootdisk of the current kernel. You may be better off creating the bootdisk from your running system.

Have a search around your filesystem for i.e. mkbootdisk or something like that.

locate mkbootdisk

locate mkboot

Also check your desktop menus to see if there is anything for creating a bootdisk.
vmantunes
08-12-2002, 09:33 PM
OK, I did that. Thats what Method 2 explains in this NHF (http://linuxnewbie.org/nhf/Booting_Your_OS/How_To_Create_a_Boot_Disk_in_Linux.html).

Now I put the bootdisk in after rebooting the system and it boots up completely to the GUI login prompt. Shouldn't the bootdisk allow me to bootup to a command line style prompt so that I can use certain utilities (e.g. fdisk)? Or, do I have to invoke a certain command during the bootup in order to acheive this?

I do get to a prompt (boot : ) during bootup; it waits 10 seconds and then continues to boot. I've tried typing in linux, root, fdisk but nothing happens and after a while it continues to bootup to the GUI login prompt.

Again, am I doing something wrong? What should I do? What should I look for?
vmantunes
08-13-2002, 10:41 PM
HELLO!!!! Anybody out there?!?!

Anyone else want to contribute??

Please feel free to add any helpful info.