Use an existing GRUB install

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Use an existing GRUB install
started by: kochab

Posted by kochab on April 08 2006,08:36

Hi!
I'd like to make a frugal install of DSL on my HD, I've already win xp and ubuntu and I'd like to use the ubuntu GRUB install,
how can I make the frugal install without replacing GRUB and then list DSL in menu.lst?
thanks
kochab

Posted by clivesay on April 08 2006,11:50

Please see the wiki or search this forum for 'grub'. There are many examples for setting up DSL on grub. You could also look in /boot/grub in the DSL filesystem to see how DSL is setup in menu.lst using the DSL version of grub.

Chris

Posted by kochab on April 08 2006,14:27

thanks for your reply,
I had already searched both in wiki and forum,
what I haven't understood is:
if I launch the frugal install grub script from DSL doesnt it overwrite the existing grub? if so how can I make a frugal install without overwriting grub?
thanks

Posted by mikshaw on April 08 2006,14:49

Essentially the frugal install script simply automates the process of copying the contents of the CD onto your harddrive and installs the bootloader. I couldn't say anything about the specifics of the script, so i have no idea if the bootloader install can be skipped (perhaps using an "upgrade" option?). Since you already have a working Linux system you can use that to copy the KNOPPIX and boot directories from the cd onto an ext2 or ext3 partition and manually add an entry for it into your existing grub menu.lst. This will give you a fully-functioning frugal system.

Posted by yeti on May 12 2006,01:25

Concerning frugal install:

FWIW I have hacked my Fedora/Windows multi-boot to include DSL using a Fedora grub implentation by adding the obvious DSL entry amongst the others. Salient points are:

1. KNOPPIX from the DSL el torito goes to / and both minirt24.gz and linuxl24 go to /boot in hda6, an otherwise Fedora Core 4 partition;

2. The modified grub.conf is in whatever partition that Fedora last installed grub, in my case /boot/grub on hda5, a partition with Fedora Core 5 on it; and

3. I use the Windows partition, hda1 to save mydsl, backup, and opt files.

DSL seems to work ok excepting some hesitation during boot looking for but soon giving up on the cdrom, somehow finding hda6 ultimately.

The pertinent parts of my grub.conf look like the following:

title FC5 on hda5, kernel 2111
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.16-1.2111_FC5 ro root=/dev/hda5 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.16-1.2111_FC5.img

title DSL to ramdisk, 'KNOPPIX' on hda6
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/linux24 ramdisk_size=100000 vga=788 frugal toram nousb nosound
initrd /boot/minirt24.gz

title win98 on hda1
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

title FC4 on hda6, Kernel 1833
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-1.1833_FC4 ro root=/dev/hda6 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15-1.1833_FC4.img

I'd be interested to know if anyone else gets it done this way.

yeti

Posted by andrewb on May 12 2006,05:14

If you use the code dsl fromhd=/dev/hda6 you will lose the hesitation as it will go straight to that partition rather than searching for the knoppix filesystem.

Posted by yeti on May 12 2006,15:12

andrewb

Thank you, sir.
'fromhd' does the trick. 'from hd' doesn't work as well, I find.
My dmesg now looks a lot more normal.
Instant booting, almost.

I have removed the original ramdisk= entry with no ill effect..

What exactly does the frugal entry accomplish?
I'm afraid to leave it off, but it does seem superfluous.

yeti