Help on Old PC HD Install
Forum: HD Install
Topic: Help on Old PC HD Install
started by: jam22
Posted by jam22 on Mar. 07 2006,02:31
Hi! I really need some help here.I have a IBM PC300 running on Pentium 1 166mhz with 32 mb of RAM. I wanted to try out Linux on this machine.
I had several problems with this unit since it cannot boot from CD. So I followed the WIKIs instruction on how to boot from floppy and proceeded to install to the hard disk.
I have partitioned the hard drive for both DOS/WINDOWS and for LINUX.
So far, I am able to do so. Unfortunately, I need to always place the boot floppy to run DSL. Also, I could no longer access DOS. I also need to use a boot floppy for it. Although, the partitions in the hard drive seems to be okay and I can move files around.
There was a post in the wiki on how to correct this but unfortunately the link to the GRUB boot image does not work.
What seems to be the problem?
Posted by The_Pirate on Mar. 07 2006,19:21
Well... Your boot loader screws up (what a wonder of logic!).I'm not very good with GRUB - may i humbly suggest you try LILO?
Mainly because that one i can work out...
After booting DSL, you ought to be able to find a file:
/etc/lilo.conf
Open it with less:
less /etc/lilo.conf
and check the entries. If there is seperate entries for Linux and Dos/Win - and they point to the correct devices, like /dev/hda1 or /dev/hda2, that file ought to be OK.
Then run as root:
/sbin/lilo
and try to reboot the machine. If all's well, you get a boot menu that gives you choice between Linux or Dos. Try it. if it works, be happy, if not... Well try a re-install with Lilo. It only takes ten minutes.
Posted by jam22 on Mar. 08 2006,05:11
Hi Pirate,Have to admit. I am new to linux and I have problems doing your instructions. I am more familiar with Kanotix (also knoppix derivative). In there, I could just log in as root and edit any file (I have been editing GRUB.LST).
I am having difficulty editing lilo.conf. I could see the problem. The root=/dev/hda5 (should be hda4). I cannot edit it. It tells me that this is a system file and is read only.
Hope you can help. Sorry for the silly questions.
Posted by The_Pirate on Mar. 08 2006,08:15
Jam, i hope you do not take this as an insult - but if you are very new to linux, it may be easier to just use 15 minutes on a re-install with LILO?On the other hand - you don't learn anything from that...
To edit system files you need to be 'root' - the top administrator. To become root, open a terminal (i'm on a WinCan now at work, but i think the terminal is top-left icon on the DSL desktop) and enter
su
Then it asks for your root password. Then you are the Top Dog of the computer!
Write:
cd /etc
to change to the proper directory, and
vi lilo.conf
to open a small, stupid, but handy editor. Use the cursor to move to the right spot, and delete the faulty entry. Press 'i' to enter 'insert' mode, and type the new stuff. When finished, press 'esc' a couple of times, then
ZZ
(upper case is important) to save and exit. Then
cd /sbin
and to install the changes:
./lilo
Last thing is to get out of root again:
exit
and you are back where you started. Please reboot, and check if all's well. Else keep editing
Have fun!
Posted by jam22 on Mar. 10 2006,02:16
No Insult taken. Its the only way to learn.I have tried your suggestion. I still come out not being able to save the changes in the file.
Went to the terminal window and did the following:
sudo su
cd /etc
vi lilo.conf
I first tried ESC ESC ZZ. It returned an error message. I tried :wq. It told me it was an read only file and I need to use the ! command. Tried :wq!, Can't open file for writing.
Incidentally, I tried it with GRUB.
sudo su
cd /boot/grub
vi menu.lst
Same as with Lilo, I can't save the changes in the file.
Hope you can help.
Thanks,
JAM
Posted by The_Pirate on Mar. 10 2006,08:20
I guess the key to the mystery is 'sudo'.sudo let you execute the one single command following it with root rights, then exits to the previous user.
Thus, 'sudo su' ought to give you root status for a brief moment, then drop it again before you can type the next command.
If you want to use sudo, i guess the proper command (not quite sure, i tend to use 'su') sequence would be:
cd /etc
sudo vi lilo.conf
..edit, save and exit...
cd /sbin
sudo lilo
if you use 'su' instead of 'sudo', you will remain root until the 'exit' command, or you close the window - then 'su', being a child process of the window will die, too.
Please let me hear if this helps?
Posted by Borderpatrol on Mar. 12 2006,17:31
What is the password for su?
Posted by jam22 on Mar. 14 2006,00:54
Pirate,Thanks a lot for the help. It took me sometime to come back to this forum. I was trying out puppy linux. Unfortunately, I was not able to let it run on such small memory and had difficulty making puppy linux recognize the swap I have created.
Anyhow, I have already fixed the problem. I used grub. Also, it was a bios problem that kept on making me boot to the floppy. Now everything works well.
Thanks for you patience.
JAM
Posted by The_Pirate on Mar. 14 2006,20:16
Borderpatrol - i'm sorry, i don't know the default root password. But 'sudo' is really handy here, as it gives you root status :sudo passwd
..then just type whatever you like, and now you have a fresh new root password - use that for 'su'. Problem solved ?
Jam22 - glad you found a solution. I'm sorry i didn't think of BIOS settings. I just hope you got some usable bits out of my gibberish.
And please don't mention my 'patience' - that's not one of my best qualities - i have about as much as Donald Duck! I just don't have time to get steamed wit one daily visit to a mailing list... ;)
I am the secretary of our local user group ('ALSLUG'), and i specialize in helping new members with installation and all the 'getting started' stuff. I find it rewarding, and that way even a stupid git like me can radiate (unearned) glorious amounts of knowledge - i just have to pass people on in a hurry, before they need some _real_ answers!
Sometimes it breaks down, though. I _ALWAYS_ get stuck with a Compaq laptop at the install parties...
Posted by bitpir8 on Mar. 17 2006,17:12
Is this issue closed? Hm. I was just considering about installing DSL myself to a hard drive and I came across this thread.It's true, point lilo.conf to the kernel on your hard drive. If you can't edit it.. !! ! Check the file's ownership and permissions.. chown it and chmod it.
Oh, I just read the rest of the replies... You decided to use something different. Hah, OK. Where are the steps for installing it to the hard drive? Chances are I'll find them before I get a reply, but at least I got to post!