Install to hdb with grub or lilo on hda?

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Install to hdb with grub or lilo on hda?
started by: linuxlizard

Posted by linuxlizard on Oct. 24 2006,02:07

Hello,
This is the situation-
I've got windows 98 on hda, want a dsl hard drive install (normal) to exist on hdb.

grub and lilo aren't writing to hda.

I found this in the wiki:

< http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Installing_Grub >

But the link to the file is dead.

Will someone be kind enough to walk me through what I need to get grub on hda or on the root partition of DSL on hdb (prefer the latter, but either will get the job done). I've tried searching the net but I find grub instructions confusing, I need a step by step. I've put this computer together from a couple of old ones for a couple of kids who could really use it. Want to keep hda as windows 98 so we can keep jumpstart educational software on there.

Much thanks!

Admin- please remove my thread in the networking section of the board if you read this. I didn't know how to remove it or transfer it here.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 24 2006,04:15

Can you boot off the DSL livecd? If so, you can use use the install scripts that exist on there (or just use grub if that's all you need).

Posted by linuxlizard on Oct. 24 2006,15:12

Boot off the live cd- yes I can

By install scripts, if you are talking about the install to hd script, that's the one giving me problems. I can install to hd fine (DSL is there) but when it goes to put lilo or grub on there, it doesn't seem to be putting them on hda (I'm installing DSL to hdb, and I think that has something to do with the problem). The bootloader on hda is from an attempt at vector, and is not being written over. To check if the problem was caused by vector, I installed gag to the mbr and it was not written over when I did the DSL HD install either.

What I suspect may be happening is the script is writing lilo or grub to hdb's mbr rather than hda, but I don't know how to confirm it.

Is there a script that lets me put grub or lilo where I want it?

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 24 2006,16:53

I believe it does install to the mbr of the target device.

The easiest fix would be to change your boot order in your BIOS (I like everything to be contained in one place, but that's just my preference)

If you really want to install lilo/grub to hda, there's 'grub-install' and 'lilo' included on the DSL livecd.

Posted by linuxlizard on Oct. 24 2006,18:24

The boot order is a good idea but this old bios doesn't allow it.
I actually fiddled a little with grub-install on the live cd and every which way I tried to command it, it would complain.
Could you give me the correct command to install grub to the root or mbr?
Or if lilo is easier- whichever is easiest is fine with me. I just want to be able to get these kids computer booting. I've had it for a couple of weeks now and have been struggling with dsl for about half that time. Took me about an hour to build from parts of a couple of machines- many times longer to get this software running so far.
Thanks much

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 24 2006,20:34

For grub,
I'm going to assume you want stage 1 (mbr stuff) for hda and stage 2 to hdb1.

Code Sample

# grub-install /dev/hda --root-directoy=/mnt/hdb1

Since the stuff oringally installed everything to hdb, you should still have device.map and menu.lst in hdb1's boot dir (no need to touch these) so I think all you have to do is reboot now.

Alternatively, you can physically switch the cable positions (reverse the current positions). This is assuming the DSL drive does not contain _any_ fat type partitions, or else win98/msdos will mess up.

Posted by larkl on Oct. 29 2006,13:27

The only way that I could get a similar install to work was to physically move the working WXX drive to the slave position, then install DSL to the now master drive. Then change grub to make this work, ala

Code Sample

map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)

Doesn't mean that you can't get it to work some other way, of course.

Posted by FunGogh on Nov. 03 2006,05:36

Hi,

I had the same problem ... after Frugal Install to hdb. DSL was installed but my previously installed Grub was not overwritten.

The DSL Grub was installed on hdb ... (/boot/grub/menu.lst)
So, I just went ahead, opened the DSL menu.lst file ... I think it was Beaver ...
copied the following lines

title DSL
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/linux24 root=/dev/hdb5 quiet vga=normal noacpi noapm dma toram noscsi frugal
initrd /boot/minirt24.gz

and pasted it into the previous "menu.lst"

I have to say, I had to add the line "root (hd1,4), it was not automaticly created, and it may have to be different in your case. But after that I could boot into DSL.

PS: hd1 = hdb (use hd2 for hdc ... and so on)
the 4 after the "," stands for hdb"5" ... so, if your DSL is on hdb1, you have to use (hd1,0)

hope that helps

Posted by Winter Knight on Nov. 04 2006,02:07

Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ Oct. 24 2006,13:34)

Code Sample

# grub-install /dev/hda --root-directoy=/mnt/hdb1

Does this command work for you linuxlizard? It looks right to me, so I think it should.

If you need more detailed instructions:

1) Boot up LiveCD. Use cheatcode "2" (without quotes)
2) run hats's command.
3) reboot.

Lark1's suggestion might work too, but it is more work. FunGough's won't work for you because you don't have a "previous" menu.lst. You have Win98 in that spot.

Please answer back. I hate it when people get their problem solved and then stop posting, rather than saying "it works thank you!" On the other hand, sorry if the users of this forum couldn't help you enough to get it solved, and you gave up.