Damn Small Linux - Not!

macadavy · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 2:21 am Post subject: Linux dual boot (frugal) install

I would like to set up a dual boot (PCLinuxOS/DSL - N) w/separate hard drives. I have frugal installed DSL - N first as it will only install to hda1 using the LILO bootloader. It boots fine. Then I install PCLOS on hdb1 (the second HD) and it boots fine - but does not recognize DSL is installed, (although it recognized windoze when I earlier had that dual boot setup). I have tried manually configuring LILO with these parameters for DSL - N: Image: /boot/linux, Root: /dev/hda1, Initrd: /boot/minirt.gz - but I get the following errors when trying to boot DSL - N:

pivotroot: pivot_root(/sysroot,/sysroot/initrd) failed: 2
umount /initrd/sys failed: 2
umount /initrd/proc failed: 2
Initrd finished
Freeing unused kernel memory: 208k freed
Kernel panic - not syncing: No init found

Any suggestions?

macadavy · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:33 am Post subject:

Just found this sysinfo file via PCLinuxOS:

----lilo----

# File generated by DrakX/drakboot
# WARNING: do not forget to run lilo after modifying this file

default="PCLinuxOS"
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
keytable=/boot/livecd.klt
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-oci6.mdk-i586-up-1GB
label="PCLinuxOS"
root=/dev/hdb1
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.6.12-oci6.mdk-i586-up-1GB.img
append="noapic nolapic nomce acpi=ht psmouse.proto=imps splash=silent"
vga=791
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="DSLinux"
root=/dev/hda1
initrd=/boot/minirt.gz
vga=791

Does this offer any clues?

Indifferent · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

Not sure if this applies in Linux or not (it does in Win), but you can't boot from 2 different hard drives, only 2 different partitions.

macadavy · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: Dual Boot (Frugal) Install

I had it set up with windoze on one hard drive, Linux on the second. The key is to have the LILO bootloader in the Master Boot Record. I just need to figure out the proper config for the DSL-N boot sequence and write it into the LILO config. file. See the LILO file posted above - there's something wrong in the second half where the DSL-N boot sequence is.

Indifferent · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

I don't know much about Lilo, so I didn't know you could boot from two different physical disks. It's nice to know though. Maybe I will give it a try once I get more familiar with boot loaders and Linux.

Indifferent · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

I found this thread dealing with a similar subject:[url]http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=225704[/url]

Hope it helps!

gadabout · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

I also don't know much about Lilo and do my double and triple booting from grub. But I can tell you that you must boot from the root drive. That is to say that is where lilo needs to reside. This can be any drive or partition but must be setup as the root drive. Winhose allways grabs the first drive, makes it the root drive loading MBR etc. I have used that drive with Win2000 installed on it with grub installed later and everthing works fine. I have another machine where I am booting from Hdb1 with grub and have DSL on hda1. I would look at your lilo menu.lst file (if you have one with lilo) to get settings that you can use to boot the os of your choice. One more thing, I would be very careful partitioning. I have done allot of partitioning and still don't totally understand it. Good luck. Craig

macadavy · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:25 am Post subject:

Thanks for your replies. I may try the GRUB Frugal install and see if it picks up on my PCLinuxOS install on the second HD. GRUB does seem to be more flexible than LILO from what I've heard. We'll see!