Slack wont boot

[spilt097]

I finally got up the courage to install slackware. I read the docs that came with the .iso besides reading some others. Tried to read as much as I could before posting yet am still lost.. Heres my problem.

When I boot the 9.1 iso it works fine using the bare.i kernel. I partition my hard drive do mkreiser, mkswap, etc... I got through the setup program fine. I got through the configure program fine. I exit it says slackware install successfull.

I reboot. It loads the pretty RH boot screen for lilo and then gets half way through booting up and I get a flashing kernel init error.

Anyone?

[nabis]

It loads the pretty RH boot screen for lilo
I think you've got yourself the answer, you did not install the Slackware lilo.

[spilt097]

Now Im even more lost. I deleted my boot partition and made a new one. I have no idea what to do now.

Great another couple hours of searching and Im set.

[mdwatts]

Are you planning to dualboot with Redhat?

If you are then using the Redhat bootloader, install Slackware's bootloader into the Slack root partition (you don't need a separate /boot partition then for Slack) and then add a boot section for Slackware to Redhat's bootloader config.

[spilt097]

No I wanted to do an exclusive slack install.

Last nights search was a bust found nothing. I"ll try again after work.

[mdwatts]

Then do a custom install of Slack and ensure you select to have it's bootloader overwrite the location of Redhat's (mbr or /boot).

[otbibb]

To add a bit to mdwatts...

In your Slackware install process, there should have been a "lilo setup" step. It gives you the option of putting in your settings manually or allowing it to try "automagic" installation. You have to choose between installing the bootloader to the MBR or to the boot sector of a particular drive partition.

Perhaps you installed to the boot sector, but your original RH bootloader is still in the MBR. This would cause the symptoms you describe.

Reboot your computer with the Slack CD in, and when the welcome screen comes up, type in the command to boot using the CD's kernel but your Slackware root partition. I've haven't done this in a long time, but it will involve putting in something like "linux noinitrd root=/dev/hda3". The welcome screen gives you an example that you can just copy in, substituting the name of your root partition.

Then, edit the /etc/lilo.conf file to have it write to the MBR. To do this make sure that the boot option at the beginning points to your main drive: boot=/dev/hda. It shouldn't have a partition number included. Make sure you have an entry for your Slackware root partition. [If my theory is correct, you probably already do. It needs a proper root=/dev/hda3 enry, or whatever is right for you.]

Save the file and then as root run /sbin/lilo. This will rewrite your MBR to boot into your Slack partition. Reboot and things should work.

This will save you from having to reinstall Slackware. By the way, if you're using the bare.i kernel, you don't even really NEED to do all of this. You could always boot from the install CD, with the proper root partition passed to the kernel.

HTH

[serz]

Do what otbibb suggested. But, instad of having to edit /etc/lilo.conf run liloconfig, it's easier.

[spilt097]

I finally got it up and running.

Im having some problems with X, I'll try and figure them out and if I cant I'll post back here.

Thanks for you help.

[nabis]

just in case, you configure X in two steps, first: login as root, run xfree86setup (it will detect your hardware), second step: edit /etc/X11/XF86Config to adjust HorizSync and VertRefresh values for your monitor.