Very Computer

by **Nick Johnso** » Wed, 02 Dec 1998 04:00:00

How is loadlin used, and what should be done during installation to use
it?

Does it require partitions to be made for linux anyway?

by **Erik Hanse** » Wed, 02 Dec 1998 04:00:00

> How is loadlin used, and what should be done during installation to use
> it?

Loadlin.exe is used from the DOS command line to boot a linux partition.

Booting linux with loadlin involves a command similar to (depending on
your setup):

C:\> loadlin.exe c:\vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro

(the important parameters passed to it are the kernel (in this case a
kernel vmlinuz in the DOS root directory) and the partition you want to
mount as root.

Quote:
> Does it require partitions to be made for linux anyway?

Loadlin doesn't require partitions. Linux does. The only way around this
is a UMSDOS partition. Redhat, I believe, doesn't support them, but
Slackware does. I would only suggest using one of those if you are more
certain than not that you won't be running Linux for the long term,
because UMSDOS is significantly slower and much more inefficient disk
spacewise than a Linux native partition.

Loadlin does work with UMSDOS partitions.

Erik

Very Computer

Loadlin and multiple boots

Loadlin and multiple boots

Loadlin and multiple boots