Very Computer

I have a problem with LILO: I can boot Linux only from floppy and
not from harddisk! Instead of Linux, which should be the default OS,
MS-DOS is loaded. Even pressing the SHIFT, ALT or CONTROL key has no
effect: No boot-menue is displayed and DOS is loaded stolidly!

I have Linux 1.0.9 running on a 486 DX 40. On my first harddisk I have
all the DOS-stuff; on the second Linux. On partition /dev/hdb2 my
root filesystem is installed. I have set the bootflag for this partition
with (Linux-) fdisk. Proof: fdisk /dev/hdb and command 'p' gives:

Device    Boot  Start  End  Blocks  Id  System
/dev/hdb1       1      40   16772   82  Linux swap
/dev/hdb2  *    41     80   16800   83  Linux native
   .
   .
...and so on.

My lilo.conf, residing in /etc (--> new hierarchy!), looks like this:

***********************************************************************
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig', modified by N.C.
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hdb2
#compact                         # faster, but won't work on all systems.
message = /etc/lilo/bootmessage  # Modification of N.C.
prompt
vga = normal                     # force sane state
ramdisk = 0                      # paranoia setting
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /vmlinuz
  root = /dev/hdb2
  label = linux
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# DOS bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
  label = dos
  table = /dev/hda
# DOS bootable partition config ends
************************************************************************

While running /sbin/lilo, the following messages (and only these) are
displayed:

Quote:> Added linux
> Added dos.

Quote:> LILO version 0.14
> Written 1992-1994 by Werner Almesberger

> Reading boot sector from /dev/hdb2
> Merging with /boot/boot.b
> Mapping message file /etc/lilo/bootmessage
> Boot image: /vmlinuz
> Added linux
> Boot other: /dev/hda1, on /dev/hda, loader /boot/chain.b
> Added dos

Thank you very much in advance for hints/comments.

Norbert Christlieb

And more: *ONLY* partitions on the first drive can be made active
(one at a time); if you try to set active a partition of the second
drive with dos fdisk, it'll tell you that (I guess linux fdisk didn't
tell you that).
So, the active partition should be the dos one (/dev/hda1)
onto the first drive.

Hope to be helpful,
Ciao Nicky

: I have a problem with LILO: I can boot Linux only from floppy and
: not from harddisk! Instead of Linux, which should be the default OS,
: MS-DOS is loaded. Even pressing the SHIFT, ALT or CONTROL key has no
: effect: No boot-menue is displayed and DOS is loaded stolidly!

: I have Linux 1.0.9 running on a 486 DX 40. On my first harddisk I have
: all the DOS-stuff; on the second Linux. On partition /dev/hdb2 my
: root filesystem is installed. I have set the bootflag for this partition
: with (Linux-) fdisk. Proof: fdisk /dev/hdb and command 'p' gives:

    You can't boot from the second physical disk.. This is a BIOS
limitation... If you can put LILO on the first disk somehow, or
switch the disks...  

--
Mark Smith                      |         ___ O    

KD6JTS                          |      |/\___/        
--------------------------------+---------------------
"Why won't Windows work on my Macintosh?"
        - The ultimate DFO error

Your active partition (and any "boot managers") must be located on /dev/hda.

Richard