Cable Forum - View Single Post

chriscl · 17-02-2004, 16:55

Richard,

I'm assuming you're using a linux loader to boot your operating systems? (i.e. not a third-party loader?)

If so, are you using LILO or GRUB? (I don't know Mandrake's preference as to which they install by default?)

Sometimes wonderful GUI tools don't work very well - for instance, if you want to change boot-loader options with LILO, you have to be 'root' to do this. Maybe the Mandrake tool isn't asking you to authenticate as root?

If you're using GRUB, I think that in the "grub.conf" config file you merely need to specify which OS to boot, using the "default=x" line - where x is the operating system as listed in order in your grub.conf, starting at '0' for the first one. You can edit grub.conf (again as root) and check for this, if there is no "default=" line, add one!

If your system uses LILO, you can add a "default=xxxx" line to lilo.conf (again, as root) where the 'xxxx' is the "image name" of the operating system to boot by default. If you open lilo.conf in an editor, you should see several lines, any linux kernels whil be shown as "image=/path/", with a "label=" entry beneath, and other (non-linux OS) will be shown as "other=/path", again with an appropriate "label=" entry. I think from memory, that lilo will call a non-linux OS "DOS" unless otherwise amended, so you could put an entry in to lilo.conf to say "default=DOS" - this should then default LILO to booting your "DOS" image. Obviously, if it's called it "Windows", then use this...

Remember if you manually amend lilo.conf you must (as root....) run 'lilo' at a command prompt to update the boot loader. It's also then an idea to run 'lilo -q' to query LILO - you should see the 'default' image (i.e. the one booted first!) with an asterisk after it....

If either of the above don't work, let us know which loader you use and I can check further for you.....

HTH!

17-02-2004, 16:55	#2
chriscl Inactive Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carlton-Nottingham Posts: 47	Re: Mandrake bootloader config Richard, I'm assuming you're using a linux loader to boot your operating systems? (i.e. not a third-party loader?) If so, are you using LILO or GRUB? (I don't know Mandrake's preference as to which they install by default?) Sometimes wonderful GUI tools don't work very well - for instance, if you want to change boot-loader options with LILO, you have to be 'root' to do this. Maybe the Mandrake tool isn't asking you to authenticate as root? If you're using GRUB, I think that in the "grub.conf" config file you merely need to specify which OS to boot, using the "default=x" line - where x is the operating system as listed in order in your grub.conf, starting at '0' for the first one. You can edit grub.conf (again as root) and check for this, if there is no "default=" line, add one! If your system uses LILO, you can add a "default=xxxx" line to lilo.conf (again, as root) where the 'xxxx' is the "image name" of the operating system to boot by default. If you open lilo.conf in an editor, you should see several lines, any linux kernels whil be shown as "image=/path/", with a "label=" entry beneath, and other (non-linux OS) will be shown as "other=/path", again with an appropriate "label=" entry. I think from memory, that lilo will call a non-linux OS "DOS" unless otherwise amended, so you could put an entry in to lilo.conf to say "default=DOS" - this should then default LILO to booting your "DOS" image. Obviously, if it's called it "Windows", then use this... Remember if you manually amend lilo.conf you must (as root....) run 'lilo' at a command prompt to update the boot loader. It's also then an idea to run 'lilo -q' to query LILO - you should see the 'default' image (i.e. the one booted first!) with an asterisk after it.... If either of the above don't work, let us know which loader you use and I can check further for you..... HTH!