Most recent edit on 2007-05-06 21:36:50 by SySy [moved]
Additions:
moved to http://docs.mypclinuxos.com/index.php?title=Boot_loader_FAQ∞
Deletions:
The Bootloader FAQ
Back to The PCLinuxOS FAQ
General Introductory FAQs - Read these first!
Technical Howto FAQs
What is a bootloader? What is Lilo? What is Grub?
When you turn on your computer, your computer must find out how to load an operating system. Your computer (or more specific: its BIOS) goes looking in a few places, and when it finds the information to load an operating system (OS), it immediately does so. You could for example have your computer looking at the floppydisk first, then the CD, then the USBkeys or memorysticks, then the harddisk. Whichever means you use, it locates a piece of software to load the actual OS. The software that loads the OS is called the bootloader. Linux often uses either the Lilo bootloader (as is the case with PCLinuxOS) or Grub. The menu you see before PCLinuxOS starts is the bootloader. Wikipedia has extensive coverage of booting and bootloaders∞.
What is a Master Boot Record?
The first sector (512 bytes) of your harddisk is called the Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR holds both a little program and the information about the partitions on your harddisk, called the partition table. The program in the MBR, called the first stage bootloader, loads the partition table to discover which partition is marked for booting. It then loads and executes the bootsector of that partition to kickstart the operating system. You only have one MBR per harddisk.
What is a parition's bootsector?
Each partition on your harddisk also holds a bootsector. This is the first 512 bytes of a partition on a harddisk. The bootsector holds a little program, another first stage bootloader, that can load the operating system and start it. The bootsector doesn't get loaded automatically, but you can get a bootloader (like the one in the MBR) to load and execute it.
What is chain loading?
Suppose you have PCLinuxOS installed on /dev/hda5, and you've installed PCLinuxOS's bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda5. How can your computer then know how to load your PCLinuxOS? You have to configure the bootloader in the MBR to load the bootloader on /dev/hda5 to load linux. This is called "chain loading". Luckily, this sounds more complicated then it actually is.
Where does Lilo or Grub come into play in all this?
Once the first stage bootloader is running,from the MBR, it locates the second stage bootloader from the /boot folder of your Linux. This is either Lilo or Grub. In the case of Windows, the second stage bootloader is called NTLDR. With Linux the /boot folder holds, among others, the boot program Lilo or Grub. Lilo then loads the kernel (the heart of the operating system) and the initrd from the /boot folder. The initrd (which is short for initial ramdisk) holds the programs that end up launching the PCLinuxOS that we all know and love.
What more should I know about Lilo?
You should know LILO is a versatile LInux LOader. It does not depend on any specific file system, can boot Linux kernel images from floppydisks and harddisks, and can even boot other operating systems as well. One of up to sixteen different images can be selected at boot time. Various parameters, such as the root device, can be set independently for each kernel. Lilo can even be used as the master boot record.
How do I execute the commands you give?
See below.
How do I edit lilo.conf / grub.conf?
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console/terminal. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console/terminal by starting: Startmenu -> Terminals -> konsole.
You can now very easily edit files by typing "kdesu kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. It will ask for the root password. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. Executing a command is as easy as typing it in on the console, and pressing enter. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by, at the "#" prompt, typing "lilo -v", and pressing Enter. When you are done with using the console, you can type "exit" to log out. Or you can press Ctrl+D, which does the same.
If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4. To start "mc" as root so you can edit lilo.conf, open a konsole and type "su". It will ask for the root password. Then type "mc". There you go...
CategoryFAQ
Edited on 2006-07-11 19:38:26 by DidouPh
Additions:
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console/terminal. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console/terminal by starting: Startmenu -> Terminals -> konsole.
You can now very easily edit files by typing "kdesu kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. It will ask for the root password. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. Executing a command is as easy as typing it in on the console, and pressing enter. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by, at the "#" prompt, typing "lilo -v", and pressing Enter. When you are done with using the console, you can type "exit" to log out. Or you can press Ctrl+D, which does the same.
If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4. To start "mc" as root so you can edit lilo.conf, open a konsole and type "su". It will ask for the root password. Then type "mc". There you go...
Deletions:
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console/terminal. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console/terminal by starting: Startmenu -> Terminals -> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. It will ask for the root password.
You can now very easily edit files by typing "kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. Executing a command is as easy as typing it in on the console, and pressing enter. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by, at the "#" prompt, typing "lilo -v", and pressing Enter. When you are done with using the console, you can type "exit" to log out. Or you can press Ctrl+D, which does the same.
If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4.
Edited on 2006-01-29 03:54:45 by LexNL [Minor rename]
Additions:
~-I've just installed PCLinuxOS, but it won't start
Deletions:
~-I've just installed PCLinuxOS, but it won't boot correctly
I've just installed PCLinuxOS, but it won't boot correctly
Edited on 2006-01-29 03:52:41 by LexNL [minor addition]
No differences.
Edited on 2006-01-29 03:40:38 by LexNL [Added reinstall pclinuxos to repair lilo option]
Additions:
~-I've just installed PCLinuxOS, but it won't boot correctly
Edited on 2006-01-28 03:16:00 by LexNL [Removed a double item]
Deletions:
~-How do I install Lilo to a Floppydisk?
Edited on 2006-01-28 03:13:22 by LexNL [Added lilo-on-disk link]
Additions:
~-How do I install the lilo bootloader to a floppydisk?
Deletions:
~-How do I install the bootloader to a floppydisk?
Edited on 2006-01-28 03:00:24 by LexNL [Added LiloOnFloppy]
Additions:
~-How do I install Lilo to a Floppydisk?
Edited on 2006-01-14 09:44:15 by LexNL [Removed double link]
Deletions:
~-How do I add another Linux to the PCLinuxOS Lilo bootloader?
Edited on 2006-01-14 09:41:05 by LexNL [Minor corrections]
Additions:
~-How do I dual-boot another Linux with PCLinuxOS?
Deletions:
~-How to dual-boot more another Linux with PCLinuxOS?
Edited on 2006-01-14 09:40:49 by LexNL [Minor corrections]
Additions:
~-How to dual-boot more another Linux with PCLinuxOS?
Deletions:
~-Dual-Booting more then one Linux with PCLinuxOS?
Edited on 2006-01-14 09:40:24 by LexNL [Added dual-booting Linux link]
Additions:
~-Dual-Booting more then one Linux with PCLinuxOS?
Edited on 2006-01-14 09:26:44 by LexNL [Added AddLinuxToLilo link]
Additions:
~-How do I add another Linux to the PCLinuxOS Lilo bootloader?
Edited on 2005-12-23 03:48:46 by LexNL
Additions:
~-How do I restore the old DOS/Windows MBR?
How do I remove a GRUB installation from the MBR?
Deletions:
~-How do I restore the old (DOS/Windows) bootsector/MBR?
Edited on 2005-12-11 09:48:08 by LexNL
No differences.
Edited on 2005-12-11 09:47:56 by LexNL
No differences.
Edited on 2005-12-11 09:47:41 by LexNL
Additions:
See below.
Edited on 2005-12-11 09:47:25 by LexNL
Additions:
~-How do I edit lilo.conf / grub.conf?
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console/terminal. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console/terminal by starting: Startmenu -> Terminals -> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. It will ask for the root password.
You can now very easily edit files by typing "kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. Executing a command is as easy as typing it in on the console, and pressing enter. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by, at the "#" prompt, typing "lilo -v", and pressing Enter. When you are done with using the console, you can type "exit" to log out. Or you can press Ctrl+D, which does the same.
If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4.
Deletions:
~-How do I edit lilo.conf / grub.conf?
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console by starting: Startmenu->Terminals-> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by just typing that command in the console, and pressing enter.
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console by starting: Startmenu->Terminals-> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. You can very easily edit files by typing "kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4.
Edited on 2005-12-11 09:42:03 by LexNL
Additions:
Deletions:
{{anchor name="console"}
{{anchor name="edit"}
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-12-11 09:41:37 by LexNL [Initial text]
Page view:
The Bootloader FAQ
Back to
The PCLinuxOS FAQ
General Introductory FAQs - Read these first!
Technical Howto FAQs
What is a bootloader? What is Lilo? What is Grub?
When you turn on your computer, your computer must find out how to load an operating system. Your computer (or more specific: its BIOS) goes looking in a few places, and when it finds the information to load an operating system (OS), it immediately does so. You could for example have your computer looking at the floppydisk first, then the CD, then the USBkeys or memorysticks, then the harddisk. Whichever means you use, it locates a piece of software to load the actual OS. The software that loads the OS is called the bootloader. Linux often uses either the Lilo bootloader (as is the case with PCLinuxOS) or Grub. The menu you see before PCLinuxOS starts is the bootloader. Wikipedia has extensive coverage of
booting and bootloaders∞.
What is a Master Boot Record?
The first sector (512 bytes) of your harddisk is called the Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR holds both a little program and the information about the partitions on your harddisk, called the partition table. The program in the MBR, called the first stage bootloader, loads the partition table to discover which partition is marked for booting. It then loads and executes the bootsector of that partition to kickstart the operating system. You only have one MBR per harddisk.
What is a parition's bootsector?
Each partition on your harddisk also holds a bootsector. This is the first 512 bytes
of a partition on a harddisk. The bootsector holds a little program, another first stage bootloader, that can load the operating system and start it. The bootsector doesn't get loaded automatically, but you can get a bootloader (like the one in the MBR) to load and execute it.
What is chain loading?
Suppose you have PCLinuxOS installed on /dev/hda5, and you've installed PCLinuxOS's bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda5. How can your computer then know how to load your PCLinuxOS? You have to configure the bootloader in the MBR to load the bootloader on /dev/hda5 to load linux. This is called "chain loading". Luckily, this sounds more complicated then it actually is.
Where does Lilo or Grub come into play in all this?
Once the first stage bootloader is running,from the MBR, it locates the second stage bootloader from the /boot folder of your Linux. This is either Lilo or Grub. In the case of Windows, the second stage bootloader is called NTLDR. With Linux the /boot folder holds, among others, the boot program Lilo or Grub. Lilo then loads the kernel (the heart of the operating system) and the initrd from the /boot folder. The initrd (which is short for initial ramdisk) holds the programs that end up launching the PCLinuxOS that we all know and love.
What more should I know about Lilo?
You should know LILO is a versatile
LInux
LOader. It does not depend on any specific file system, can boot Linux kernel images from floppydisks and harddisks, and can even boot other operating systems as well. One of up to sixteen different images can be selected at boot time. Various parameters, such as the root device, can be set independently for each kernel. Lilo can even be used as the master boot record.
{{anchor name="console"}
How do I execute the commands you give?
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console by starting: Startmenu->Terminals-> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. Executing "lilo -v" for example, is done by just typing that command in the console, and pressing enter.
{{anchor name="edit"}
How do I edit lilo.conf / grub.conf?
This part of the guide presumes you know how to use the console. In case you don't, here is how to. You can open a console by starting: Startmenu->Terminals-> Terminal Program - Super User Mode. You can very easily edit files by typing "kedit /etc/lilo.conf" for example. This opens a normal texteditor (like notepad) to edit "/etc/lilo.conf" with. If you know the Norton Commander or Total Commander, then you might want to try starting "mc" from the console. With mc (midnight commander) you can edit files by locating them and pressing F4.
CategoryFAQ