booting linux from a disk

[haidy]

hi all,

i want to have windows(2000 server) and linux(redhat 7.3) on my pc and boot linux from a floppydisk .......... how can i do so :confused:
explained steps plz i am a very newbie using linux

[ph34r]

When you install linux, you will be prompted to make a boot disk. Do it.

[haidy]

i have made it and tried to boot linux with but i have got a message saying

can't find kernel image
boot:

[JamminJoeyB]

Sounds like the kernal image was too big to fit on the floppy. I've never run redhat, but knowing that most stock kernels are quite large I am guessing this is the problem.

The kernel maybe installed in /boot on the hd and only lilo or grub on the floppy, it should be a matter of adjusting the grub or lilo config file to mount and boot the image on the hd.

I saw some threads on here on how to do that.

[kevinalm]

Redhat uses syslinux for boot floppies. The config file on the floppy is called syslinux.cfg . The syntax is similar, but not identical to lilo.

[o0zi]

If that's too complicated, then you can try running "mkbootdisk" from Redhat to create a bootdisk. Otherwise you'll have to edit a configuration file to point to /boot/vmlinuz.

[haidy]

i tried also remaking the boot disk using mkbootdisk but it didn't work either
i did made some changes in grub.conf but still it isnot working also :(
any suggestions

[kevinalm]

How exactly did you use mkbootdisk? It should be something like:

/sbin/mkbootdisk --device /dev/fd0 2.4.21

replacing 2.4.21 with your kernel version number. Also, what is the size of your kernel and initrd.img added together.

[nigeledge]

Doesn't mkbootdisk create an install boot disk?

What if one wanted to just create a boot disk because the MBR (and GRUB) on his HD was messed up? :)

[o0zi]

No, I think it creates a bootdisk you can access your system with.
Of course, there's always tomsrtbt if mkbootdisk fails.

[nigeledge]

I get a "No space left on device" error. What should I do now? (yes, it's Redhat).

[kevinalm]

mkbootdisk creates a bootfloppy to boot redhat into normal operation. It also allows you to boot into linux single if I recall correctly, so it can be used as a rescue disk, but so does booting of rh cd#1, and that is much more convient for rescue work.

No space left on device. Most likely vmlinuz + initrd + some other necessary files are to large to fit on the floppy. This is usually caused by too many options compiled into the kernel. Make sure the floppy is good, no bad sectors. Ms/ibm format, not ext2. And make sure it's not locked.

>> You are using 1.44 mb floppies aren't you? The old 720kb disks just aren't large enough. I know they are pretty rare anymore but I though I'd mention it just in case. Modern kernels + initrd equals somewhere around a megabyte.

[nigeledge]

drive is good. floppy is good. don't have a cd and don't have the time to spend 30 days trying to download an iso from redhat's ftp server.

I've been told that redhat is infamous for this exact problem. What can I do to decrease the size?

I've also tried using tomsrtbt... but i'm looking for something which will boot the os automatically from the hd.

[kevinalm]

You could:

1. Recompile the kernel choosing N for anything you don't need. Not recommended for a novice.

2. Install lilo or grub to the mbr of the first hd (usually the win drive). This is the most common for multiboot win9x/me and linux. Can also be done with other win versions.

3. Install lilo or grub to the linux partion (or drive) only and use multiboot capability of some versions of windoze. I'm not familiar with 2000 (95 and 98 is all I every use) but I think it can multiboot. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong and can help you with this if I'm right.