asked on

Can't boot after linux installation

Hey,
I just installed suse on a 19gb hard drive but i can't boot to windows or linux..... I've tried reinstalling sus choosing grub, lilo and none but still doesn't work.....

when i use grub it just writes
===========
GRUB _
++++++++++++

When i use lilo it just writes
==========
02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02
02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02
02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02
==========

I've still never been able to boot linux succesfully,,, I managed to boot to windows using Ultimate Boot CD.... and then in windows i see a second floppy drive (B:)

I'm going to reinstall my winXP again soon cos its starting to get buggy, but i need to be able to boot the two of em for now...

I tried downloading grub and lilo from the internet and installing it but i cant figure out how to install it.

Help...Urgent

Adecold

tfjeff

you can get winxp to boot again by going into recovery console and typing "bootcfg /rebuild"
follow this microsoft article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291980

I don't know too much about the linux side of things, however...as I have a similar problem, but this did fix the windows side of things.

good luck
jeff

SOLUTION

Luxana

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

adecold

ASKER

The specs are
2 Hard drives
+Hard Drive 1, 80gigs 2 NTFS partitions
+ Hard Drive 2, Completely empty for linux

*** Yeah one more point that i don't think afects it is that i have an intel boot agent

I deleted all the partitions on hard drive two...
Started YAST, chose the new hard drive(but i think suse installed 2 partitions on it), went to boot options, selected GRUB(and then lilo and then none), installed it on hard drive 1(windows drive) and set windows for default.

Luxana

install windows and then install linux ( do not overwrite windows MBR on /dev/hda ) and then install gag from windows.

http://gag.sourceforge.net/

let me know how you doing:))

Luxana

Luxana

some hints:

-create GAG floppy disk first to see if you what you've got
-you need to install grub or lilo on MBR your second HDD where is linux is so GAG will promp lilo of grub to boot linux
-in this case it does not matter which os you install first

Luxana

adecold

ASKER

>>I'm going to reinstall my winXP again soon cos its starting to get buggy, but i need to be able to >>boot the two of em for now...

Thats in like a month or two.... my main concern now is not reinstalling windows

adecold

ASKER

Hey... ANyone there???

I think the problem is that GRUB/LILO wasn't setup properly
i think the settings in the suse setup weren't set properly.. What should he settings be??

Adecold

PS. what do i have to do if i just want to edit the settings in LILO/GRUB ? Because what i usually do is format the drive and then reinstall suse again.

Luxana

adecold ,

to setup lilo you need to edit /etc/lilo.conf and run lilo commmand. during linux instalation install lilo to same HDD where your linux is and then install GAG .

adecold

ASKER

Using a some trick from the suse website i was able to boot to linux through installation cd. GRUB and LILO still give me errors... I installed gag but it can't see LILO/GRUB. when i press "2" to see the second hard drive it doesn't display anything.

Tasted suse 9.1 personal and it doesn't impress me... It doesn't even have half as much software/utilities/Drivers Knoppix has. I couldn't get most of my VAIO hardware to configure and i couldn't even connect to the internet through LAN. Just as i expected... the best things don't come cheap... I'lll try to get 9.1 Professional someday..

I CANT STILL DUAL BOOT !!! I still need help

Luxana

does yur bios allow you to boot from second hardrive? try if can can boot that way. You need to have linux loader properly installed in order to let GAG boot your linux.

Are you able boot windows?

adecold

ASKER

I'm able to boot windows with the help of GAG

I'm able to boot suse with the help of the installation cd

if i tell my bios, ultimate boot cd it just gives me a blank black screen with a blinking text holder.

Luxana

is the "Hard Drive 2, Completely empty for linux" primary slave? if it is your lilo has to be instaled /dev/hdb partion than you can boot . And gag will link to lilo and lilo will boot you linux.

adecold

ASKER

Yes my hard drive 2(hdb) is the primary slave, ok I'll try that again....
Should i click,
I think GAG has a problem with my pc because when it says select hard disk with keys 1-8, the first displays xp, but when i press 2 the list becomes empty THEN when i go back by pressing one it also becomes empty???

Luxana

it schold be just beacause gag did not finde lilo or grum instaled on /dev/hdb ....

during linux instalation choose install lilo to first sector of /dev/hdb

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

rid

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

adecold

ASKER

Hey,
Since i wasn't satisfied with the amount of softwares and Driveres on SuSE i decided to try out another distro..... Mandrake 10. More impressed with mandrake 10(Maybe because i like blue, and yeah all my hardwares work except tv). Chose LILO in mandrake and Done all my problems are over....

Adecold