Very Computer

I just recently installed Linux on the platform as described below:

-486dx 33 ISA-Bus
-8meg Ram
-Adpatec 1540 SCSI Controller
-420meg SCSI HD, 100meg DOS6, 304meg Linux Native, and a 16meg Linux Swap
 Partitiion.

I set LILO to boot Linux as default, which works fine. Unfortunately when I
direct LILO to boot MS-DOS 6, I recieve the following:

  Loading Dos

  Non-System disk error
  Replace and press any key when ready

It is as if the DOS partition does not contian DOS system files.  If I boot the
system from a bootable DOS floppy all is ok. I have moved the LILO boot
block around, formated the MS-DOS drive with the /s param and even r&r'd
the MS-DOS patition via DOS fdisk. All to no avail..

I'm willing to low-level format the entire drive if necessary. Any and all
help is appreciated.

Patrick Chicas

: I set LILO to boot Linux as default, which works fine. Unfortunately when I
: direct LILO to boot MS-DOS 6, I recieve the following:

:   Loading Dos

:   Non-System disk error
:   Replace and press any key when ready

: It is as if the DOS partition does not contian DOS system files.  
: If I boot the system from a bootable DOS floppy all is ok.
: I have moved the LILO boot block around, formated the MS-DOS drive
: with the /s param and even r&r'd the MS-DOS patition via DOS fdisk.
: All to no avail..

: I'm willing to low-level format the entire drive if necessary. Any and all
: help is appreciated.

Can you set the DOS partition "active" with fdisk /mbr and boot
without LILO or the boot floppy?  If not, there's something missing on
your DOS partition. Using a boot floppy bypasses reading the system files
on the DOS partition, so you can't expect LILO to work if DOS
can't boot itself...

Rob Smith

Quote:> If not, there's something missing on
>your DOS partition. Using a boot floppy bypasses reading the system files
>on the DOS partition, so you can't expect LILO to work if DOS
>can't boot itself...

Quote:>Rob Smith

Patrick Chicas

:   Non-System disk error
:   Replace and press any key when ready

Got the same problem here.  I've checked my dos partition, and it is OK.

my LILO config is as follows:
other = /dev/hdb1
      label = dos
      table = /dev/hdb

The problem is independent on the "bootable" flag in the partition table of the
(second) hard disk (Linux on /dev/hda1, Dos on /dev/hdb1).

The very fact that the message is "Non-System Disk" shows that the dos bootstrap
WAS loaded (otherwise, "missing operating system" will be displayed instead),
but somehow, it is unable to access IO.SYS etc.

Help, Please?

Automan

 Part from the LILO-FAQ:

|> Q: How do I boot other operating systems from the second drive ?
|> A: You have to add the line
|>      loader = /boot/any_d.b              (DOS, etc.)
|>    or
|>      loader = /boot/os2_d.b              (OS/2)
|>    to the corresponding OTHER = ... section of /etc/lilo.conf
|>
|> Q: I still can't boot DOS from the second drive.
|> A: Disable the first drive and verify that you can boot from the second
|>    drive if it is the first drive. If you can't, try using SYS to install
|>    the system files. If all else fails, use FDISK /MBR and/or FORMAT /S .

 Have fun,
 Tat Lam

: :   Loading Dos

: :   Non-System disk error
: :   Replace and press any key when ready

: Got the same problem here.  I've checked my dos partition, and it is OK.

: my LILO config is as follows:
: other = /dev/hdb1
:       label = dos
:       table = /dev/hdb

: The problem is independent on the "bootable" flag in the partition table of the
: (second) hard disk (Linux on /dev/hda1, Dos on /dev/hdb1).

: The very fact that the message is "Non-System Disk" shows that the dos bootstrap
: WAS loaded (otherwise, "missing operating system" will be displayed instead),
: but somehow, it is unable to access IO.SYS etc.
:  
: Help, Please?
:  

: Automan

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