triple boot

Forum: HD Install
Topic: triple boot
started by: dslnewbie

Posted by dslnewbie on Nov. 11 2003,05:45

I currently dual boot Knoppix and WinXP. I just installed DSL on partition (hda7).
I told DSL to install LILO to /dev/hda7. Here's my current setup:
WinXP=hda1
Knoppix=hda6
DSL=hda7
I am now able to boot WinXP and DSL, but not able to boot Knoppix.

What did I do wrong and how do I fix in order to boot all three?
Please be specific, as I am new to DSL.
Thanks.

Posted by KevB on Nov. 11 2003,10:49

Read a general Lilo tutorial, theres probably one on www.tldp.org.

Posted by Gilbert Ashley on Nov. 11 2003,15:43

Hello, please post a copy of your /etc/lilo.conf file and maybe I can help..
I have a QUADRUPLE boot system, but I always install lilo on a floppy and keep everything nice and separate and keep my windows bootsector clean. It's not so elegant or kewl but keeps windows installer from having any problems. The problem is that DSL by default installs lilo to the bootsector of the hard drive, so afterwards I have to use a bootdisk and run fdisk /MBR to restore the bootsector. If you're using XP it'll be a little trickier. But anyway, post your lilo.conf and I'll have a look.

Posted by dslnewbie on Nov. 12 2003,02:46

Thanks for your replies.
Here's my lilo.conf

vga=791
# /etc/lilo.conf - See: `lilo(8)' and `lilo.conf(5)',
# --------------- `install-mbr(8)', `/usr/share/doc/lilo/',
# and `/usr/share/doc/mbr/'.

# +---------------------------------------------------------------+
# | !! Reminder !! |
# | |
# | Don't forget to run `lilo' after you make changes to this |
# | conffile, `/boot/bootmess.txt', or install a new kernel. The |
# | computer will most likely fail to boot if a kernel-image |
# | post-install script or you don't remember to run `lilo'. |
# | |
# +---------------------------------------------------------------+

# Support LBA for large hard disks.
#
lba32

# Overrides the default mapping between harddisk names and the BIOS'
# harddisk order. Use with caution.
#disk=/dev/hde
# bios=0x81

#disk=/dev/sda
# bios=0x80

# Specifies the boot device. This is where Lilo installs its boot
# block. It can be either a partition, or the raw device, in which
# case it installs in the MBR, and will overwrite the current MBR.
#
boot=/dev/hda

# Specifies the device that should be mounted as root. (`/')
#
root=/dev/hda7

# Enable map compaction:
# Tries to merge read requests for adjacent sectors into a single
# read request. This drastically reduces load time and keeps the
# map smaller. Using `compact' is especially recommended when
# booting from a floppy disk. It is disabled here by default
# because it doesn't always work.
#
# compact

# Installs the specified file as the new boot sector
# You have the choice between: bmp, compat, menu and text
# Look in /boot/ and in lilo.conf(5) manpage for details
#
install=/boot/boot-menu.b

# Specifies the location of the map file
#
map=/boot/map

# You can set a password here, and uncomment the `restricted' lines
# in the image definitions below to make it so that a password must
# be typed to boot anything but a default configuration. If a
# command line is given, other than one specified by an `append'
# statement in `lilo.conf', the password will be required, but a
# standard default boot will not require one.
#
# This will, for instance, prevent anyone with access to the
# console from booting with something like `Linux init=/bin/sh',
# and thus becoming `root' without proper authorization.
#
# Note that if you really need this type of security, you will
# likely also want to use `install-mbr' to reconfigure the MBR
# program, as well as set up your BIOS to disallow booting from
# removable disk or CD-ROM, then put a password on getting into the
# BIOS configuration as well. Please RTFM `install-mbr(8)'.
#
# password=tatercounter2000

# Specifies the number of deciseconds (0.1 seconds) LILO should
# wait before booting the first image.
#
delay=20

# You can put a customized boot message up if you like. If you use
# `prompt', and this computer may need to reboot unattended, you
# must specify a `timeout', or it will sit there forever waiting
# for a keypress. `single-key' goes with the `alias' lines in the
# `image' configurations below. eg: You can press `1' to boot
# `Linux', `2' to boot `LinuxOLD', if you uncomment the `alias'.
#
# message=/boot/bootmess.txt
prompt
timeout=150
# prompt
# single-key
# delay=100
# timeout=100

# Kernel command line options that apply to all installed images go
# here. See: The `boot-prompt-HOWO' and `kernel-parameters.txt' in
# the Linux kernel `Documentation' directory.
#
# append=""
append="hda=scsi hdb=scsi hdc=scsi hdd=scsi hde=scsi hdf=scsi hdg=scsi hdh=scsi apm=power-off nomce"

# Boot up Linux by default.
#
default=Linux

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-xfs
label=Linux

read-only
# restricted
# alias=1

image=/vmlinuz.old
label=LinuxOLD
read-only
optional
# restricted
# alias=2

# If you have another OS on this machine to boot, you can uncomment the
# following lines, changing the device name on the `other' line to
# where your other OS' partition is.
#
# other=/dev/hda4
# label=HURD
# restricted
# alias=3
other=/dev/hda1
label="Windows(hda1)"

other=/dev/hda5
label="Windows(hda5)"

other=/dev/hda3
label="Windows(hda3)"

other=/dev/hda4
label="Windows(hda4)"

Posted by Gilbert Ashley on Nov. 12 2003,22:17

You need to add a section for your Knoppix installation. You can use the vmlinuz.old section. Use the vi editor or some other text editor to edit that and put in the /dev/hda6 line for root and be sure the kernel name and location is correct. Should look like this
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-xfs
root=/dev/hda6
initrd=/boot/initrd.gz
label=Knoppix
read-only

I think this should work, although if you have a different kernel than the Knoppix version you should comment out the first line about root=/dev/xxxx that's close to the top and insert it under label=linux (damnsmall) so that they both look alike except for the label and root device. This way you can have several entries one after the other. If you want to install lilo to a floppy, change the line
boot=/dev/hda to boot=/dev/fd0
After saving the file be sure to type lilo to have it rewrite it. better still type:
lilo -v -t (thats -verbose -test) to see if everything is alright.
then type lilo at the prompt to install it.
Hope this helps.

Posted by dslnewbie on Nov. 13 2003,03:15

Your response made it easy to resolve.
Here's the final version I ended up with in that section of lilo.conf:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-xfs
root=/dev/hda7
label=Linux

read-only
# restricted
# alias=1

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-xfs
root=/dev/hda6
label=Knoppix

read-only
# optional
# restricted
# alias=2

Everything works properly. I cleaned up some of the lines in the lower section of lilo.conf and now the LILO menu is clean with 3 entries:

Linux (damnsmall)
Knoppix
WindowsXP

Thanks to the DSL forum, and especially to Gilbert Ashley for your assistance.