iB::Topic::Install to hdb with grub or lilo on hda?

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Topic: Install to hdb with grub or lilo on hda?

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linuxlizard Offline

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Posts: 37
Joined: Mar. 2006

Posted: 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.

^thehatsrule^ Offline

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Joined: July 2006

Posted: 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).

linuxlizard Offline

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Posts: 37
Joined: Mar. 2006

Posted: 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?

^thehatsrule^ Offline

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Posts: 3275
Joined: July 2006

Posted: 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.

linuxlizard Offline

Group: Members
Posts: 37
Joined: Mar. 2006

Posted: 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

8 replies since Oct. 24 2006,02:07

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