One note: If you install Debian 2.2 (potato) instead of 2.1 (slink), you
will get the newer version of Lilo that can handle disks over 1024
cylinders by using the "lba32" option in /etc/lilo.conf. That option is
not available in the Lilo included with Debian 2.1. The "lba32" option
is available starting with Lilo v21.4
As the other post said, a 6.4 GB disk will *usually* have less than 1024
cylinders anyway. This depends on the BIOS setup for the drive. If the
BIOS is set to what's usually called "LBA Mode" for that drive, it will
have less than 1024 cylinders as long as the drive is 8.4 GB or less. If
it's set to "Normal", it will have more. In that case the 1024 cylinder
mark will be at about 504 MB.
By the way, you don't want to change the BIOS setup for the drive after
you have partitioned it. That can/will cause serious problems with the
existing partitions. It should be changed before the drive is
partitioned.
This topic, including working around the 1024 cylinder problem with the
old Lilo, is covered in the large disk HOWTO which you can find here:
http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Large-Disk-HOWTO.html
Tom
> > I have W98 installed on a 6.4Gb FAT32 primary partition.
> > I'd like to dual boot it with Debian 2.1 installed on a 3Gb partition made
> > by using partition magic to shrink the 6.4Gb partiton to 3.4Gb and creating
> > a New 3Gb one. (I apologise for my drive/partition naming but its the only
> > way I know at the moment)
> > I'd like to use linux's Lilo as the boot manager.
> > If my motherboard will look past the 1024th cylinder for the boot image or
> > OS loader, does Lilo have to be below the 1024th cylinder?
> Lilo installs its boot loader in sector 0. The partitions that it boots
> have to be contained below cylinder 1024, but this is usually 8.4 Gb, so
> you should have no problem there.
> > If I create three primary partitions, one 400Mb, one 3Gb and another 3Gb and
> > put Lilo on the 400Mb one, W98 on one 3 and Debian on the other will the
> > win98 partition move to D:? Can I make it C: and hide the Lilo partition?
> Lilo doesn't need 400Mb! It only needs sector 0! You may still want 2
> linux partitions, however. Read the Debian installation documentation
> about partitioning schemes, and see also the partition mini-howto,
> http://www.ssc.com/mirrors/LDP/HOWTO/mini/Partition.html.
> Windows assigns drive letters according to the partitions it recognizes,
> which doesn't include ext2 (linux) partitions. So your first Windows
> partition will still be C:.
> When you're partitioning, I recommend setting up exactly one primary and
> one extended partition. Then put as many logical partitions as you want in
> the extended partition. The reason is that Windows in principle can only
> understand one primary and one extended partition per drive, and may act
> bizarrely if you use another scheme. Make the primary partition VFAT, so
> it will be C:. Some people also recommend that any other Windows
> partitions come first in the extended partition. So for example, your
> partition scheme might be:
> partition type mount
> 1 primary/VFAT C:
> 2 extended
> 5 logical/VFAT D:
> 6 logical/ext2 /
> 7 logical/ext2 /usr
> > My other 'problem' regards software. I haven't got a clue about whats on
> > offer in linux but I know what I want to do. What would you reccommend for:
> > An Office Suite (WP, Spreadsheet, DB, Presentations, I'm told Staroffice so
> > that I can read my old MS stuff)
> > Bitmap, JPEG and GIF viewing, conversion, editing (Like Paint Shop Pro)
> xv, gimp
> > Web Browsing (Like IE/Netscape)
> lynx, netscape
> > Email, Newsgroups (Like Sharkmail!)
> I use netscape
> > PDF Viewing (Like Acrobat)
> acrobat
> > TWAIN capture (UMAX Astra 600P, Parallel Port)
> > 2D/3D CAD (Preferably AutoCAD *.DXF compatible)
> > 3D rendering proggie
> > CD Burning Software (Preferably as Idiot-Resistant as Adaptec Easy CD)
> > WAV, MP3, Realaudio Player/Converter (Similar to Realjukebox if possible)
> > Any Good Games (Transport Tycoon/ Railroad Tycoon/ Civilistaion/
> > Colonization/ Simcity style)
> freeciv is terrific!
by