[aclug-L] Booting Win95 and Linux from hard disk

[John Goerzen <jgoerzen@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

Let's try a better approach this time.

Your system has an /etc/lilo.conf file.

It probably resembles this:

boot=/dev/hda2
root=/dev/hda2
compact
install=/boot/boot.b
map=/boot/map
vga=normal
delay=20
image=/vmlinuz
  label=Linux
  read-only
image=/vmlinuz.old
  label=Linux-old
  read-only

(Take particular note of the boot and root lines.)

We are going to set it up so that LILO will give you the opportunity
to pick either Linux or Win95 at boot time.

First thing you need to do is remove the number at the end of the boot 
line, if there is one.  Your "boot" line should then read:

boot=/dev/hda

Secondly, you need to append the following at the end of your
lilo.conf:

other=/dev/hda1
  label=95

Third, increase the "delay=20" to "delay=50" or so.  This is the
amount of time you have before the boot loader goes into the default
OS, given in tenths of a second.  2 seconds is often a bit too quick.

The SAMPLE file would then read:

boot=/dev/hda
root=/dev/hda2
compact
install=/boot/boot.b
map=/boot/map
vga=normal
delay=20
image=/vmlinuz
  label=Linux
  read-only
image=/vmlinuz.old
  label=Linux-old
  read-only
other=/dev/hda1
  label=95

NOTE that your boot, root, and other values may be different, so do
NOT cut and paste this file; follow the above directions to edit your
existing file.

Now, after you have done that, as root, type:

lilo

You will see something like:

Added Linux *
Added Linux-old
Added 95

(Your particular config may not have the "old" options in it.  Don't
worry.)

You are now ready to reboot -- Ctrl-Alt-Del will do it.  Special note: 
Many computers require a hard reset (reset button) or power cycle when 
going from Linux to Windows 95.  Linux often sets devices to special
32-bit fast modes that Windows 95 cannot understand, and these devices 
sometimes only get reset by a power cycle.

When you boot, like usual, you get a "LILO" prompt.  Immediately when
that prompt appears, press the Right Shift button.  (You have 5
seconds to do this before it goes into Linux by default.)

You now will have a "LILO boot: " prompt.

At this point, you can tell it which OS to use.  If you type Linux and 
press Enter, it will go in to Linux for you (just as if you had waited 
for the 5 seconds above.)  If you type 95 and press Enter, it will go
in to Windows 95 for you.  You can do this at each boot.

You may have been using a boot floppy for Linux instead of booting
from a hard disk.  If that is the case, then these directions will
enable you to discard that floppy.  Note that you may not have a
lilo.conf in that situation.  In that case, you can copy this sample
file.  NOTE: You will need to find out the appropriate value for root
above.  You can do so by typing "df" and getting the far left value on
the first line (the one with a "/" under "Mounted on").  You may also
need to delete the "image=/vmlinuz.old" line, and the two lines
immediately following it.

Hope this helps.

John

-- 
John Goerzen             | Developing for Debian GNU/Linux (www.debian.org)
Custom Programming       | Debian GNU/Linux is a free replacement for
jgoerzen@xxxxxxxxxxxx    | DOS/Windows -- check it out at www.debian.org.
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