Dual boot WindowsXP and VL [SOLVED]

[Cariboo]

Hello all,
On a Laptop Dell Inspiron 2500, with 20GB hard drive  is Windows XP installed.
I resized the Windows partition to 10GB, so I have 10GB for VL.
I got stuck with the installation at the question where to install LiLo.

I have 4 otions:
MBR        Install to Master Boot Record
Sector    Install to boot sector
Floppy    install to a formatted floppy
Skip        Do not install LiLo

I want to use only option MBR or Sector

Where do I have to install LiLo to have the opportunity to select between Windows and VL when starting the computer?
 

[GrannyGeek]

Installing LILO in the MBR or on a floppy will give you the option to choose either OS if that's what you want to do. When you're setting up LILO you'll have a chance to select what operating systems you want to be able to choose when you boot.

You can also modify the XP boot loader to offer you the option of XP or Linux. This will leave your MBR alone and is what I prefer to do on my XP/VectorLinux computers. I have a HowTo on "HOWTO Boot to VectorLinux using the Windows NT/2000/XP boot menu" at http://www.vectorlinux.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1073.msg6559#msg6559 .
--GrannyGeek

[BlueMage]

I would just like to add that I have WindowsXP installed alongside Vector SOHO 5.8 on my old laptop - boot-choice is done by LILO in MBR, and I've had no issues.  The first version was set up by the LILO auto-config, which worked out of the box, and I've since added passwording and an option to boot from a USB device.

What I'm saying is, by all means, back up your XP data if you don't want to lose it, but the most likely outcome is that you will have a perfectly functioning bootloader which gives you the option of Vector or XP if you install to MBR.

[Cariboo]

Thanks,guys,for the replies and suggestions......

I ran into another difficulty...
after installing "Absolute Linux" on this Laptop for test purpose (it works, but I like VL better),
I tried once more to install VL and now I got stuck big time!

The loading procedure from the VL-CD stops/hangs at the text line:

"Loading iSCSI transport class v2.0-724".

Please help, I'm totally lost with that ...

Help, please!
Cariboo

[Colonel Panic]

I had a similar problem with Vector 5.1. Just a guess, but I'd say your CD-ROM drive isn't reading the Vector disk properly.

I solved it by getting a different version of Vector and just installing the LILO bootloader, which picks up the partitions with Linux on them anyway.

[Cariboo]

I had a similar problem with Vector 5.1. Just a guess, but I'd say your CD-ROM drive isn't reading the Vector disk properly.

With this comment, do refer to my boot loading isue?
BTW, thank you.... you are the first person who gives any comment to this issue.....

[Colonel Panic]

With this comment, do refer to my boot loading isue?

Yes I am. I should have made myself clearer, sorry. I'm only guessing from my own experience, but what it looks like to me is that when your computer gets to this line

"Loading iSCSI transport class v2.0-724".

it then tries to read the Linux installation disk to find out what to do next, and isn't able to do so.

There is a step in the installation procedure which enables you to check the Vector disk to make sure it's OK and the drive is reading it properly, and it's probably worthwhile doing that.

[Cariboo]

There is a step in the installation procedure which enables you to check the Vector disk to make sure it's OK and the drive is reading it properly, and it's probably worthwhile doing that.

Thanks Colonel Panic,
I'll follow your suggestion...
I think the CD is alright, though, because it worked on other PC, but not on this Laptop,
so you may be right, the culprit is the  DVD drive....!?

EDIT: More Info

Sorry for not being clear enough....
Installation from CD to a clear/formatted hard drive works well.
VL runs perfectly after new installation.
Restart and boot from hard drive works as well.
But shutdown and restart does hang at line "Loading iSCSI transport class v2.0-724".

I found this in /etc/rc.d/rc.modules (which is the main system boot scrip)

## Kernel 2.4 base modules
if [ "$VERSION" = "2.4" ]; then

    ### load ide-scsi if specified on boot parameter
    if grep -q "=ide-scsi " /proc/cmdline ; then
   /sbin/modprobe ide-scsi
    fi
    fi
# end VERSION check

Can this have anything to do with my problem?

[Colonel Panic]

Hi again. I'm afraid that one's a bit beyond me, though I believe others here will be able to help.

[uelsk8s]

Cariboo,

You have posted the same question in a few different threads with different topics.
I think the cross posting is only causing confusion, and getting you less responses.

you asked

I found this in /etc/rc.d/rc.modules (which is the main system boot scrip)

## Kernel 2.4 base modules
if [ "$VERSION" = "2.4" ]; then

    ### load ide-scsi if specified on boot parameter
    if grep -q "=ide-scsi " /proc/cmdline ; then
   /sbin/modprobe ide-scsi
    fi
    fi
# end VERSION check

Can this have anything to do with my problem?

This code has nothing to do with your problem for a few diff reasons:
1) the kernel is still loading and has not ran any of the scripts on the system.
2) the code block you posted is looking for a 2.4 series kernel and because none is present it will never execute.

If you can try one of the kernel boot commands I supplied to your other post (noapic or routeirq) and let us know if they have any effect booting the installed system we can help you further from there.

Uelsk8s

[Cariboo]

!!!!Thank you Uelsk8s, for the reply....
I apologize for causing confusion....I tried very hard to get any response and because the issue is beyond my understanding I got confused myself..sorry.

I try to concentreate the whole issue here.

THIS is the other thread dealing with the same issue.
Here I already posted what happened when I addad the boot options (noapic or routeirq)

Thank you, uelsk8s, for the suggestions.

I use LiLo and I'm not sure if I do it right.
Selecting either 'linux, linux-tui or linux-gui'.
After pressing "Tab" on either selection I get the prompt:

boot: <Selection>

Then I press "blank" and type either 'noapic or routeirq'

Result:
In all cases the boot sequence stops/hangs at
'Loading iSCSI transport class v2.0-724'


Edit May 8, 2008, about ten minutes later.

To make the mystery perfect, this is what happened next, after boot stopped:

1] I turned off/shutdown with the Power button...
2] I turn the computer on...
3] I insert a Knoppix 5.1 Live CD...
4] I check the partition where VL is on by mounting this partition and reading, for example,
    the /etc/rc.d/rc.modules file...
5] I unmount the VL partition...
6] I select 'Restart'...Knoppix goes down...
7] I remove the Knoppix CD... and press 'Enter'
8] The LiLo menu comes up... and I choose "Linux"
9] The system boots to the end and VL is up and runs again...

As I said, it is far beyond my understanding. At least, I know now how to save my VL installation

[uelsk8s]

Cariboo,

you are having a very odd situation there.
I wish i could tell you exactly what was stopping the kernel from loading.
The best course for you may be to compile a custom kernel with all of the scsi and sata drivers removed.


Uelsk8s

[Cariboo]

The best course for you may be to compile a custom kernel with all of the scsi and sata drivers removed.
Uelsk8s

Thank you Uelsk8s, for taking time and dealing with this very strange behaviour!

Now you caught me with your recommendation to build a custom kernel.......
You must know that I'm, right now, absolutely clueless when it comes to kernel issues....
I would like to do that, but this would mean, that you have to give a kind of a walk through....
and that is probably to much to ask...

I wonder if there is anybody who has a Dell Inspiron 2500 with VL installed...
It cannot be that I'm the only one on planet earth

Cariboo

[uelsk8s]

I am wondering if you remove the iscsi module if it will keep your computer from stalling.
try finding the iscsi modules and move them somewhere then reboot to see if that fixes it.

Code:

root:# find /lib/modules/ -name *iscsi*
/lib/modules/2.6.22.19/kernel/drivers/scsi/libiscsi.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.22.19/kernel/drivers/scsi/iscsi_tcp.ko

this code ran as root should work

Code:

for i in $(find /lib/modules/ -name *iscsi*);do mv $i /root;done

try that and let me know if it does anything

[Cariboo]

Before I try that I want to bring to your attention what I observed...
(I'm not sure if it is of any importance in this case):

The disrupted boot stops way before the line "Loading modules" on a normal boot.
The screen SHOT shows the the information before boot stops.

Because it is not certain what happens and I don't want to loose my VL installation
I'm very cautious.
Therefore I didn't try yet and wait for your comment.
Again, thanks for your help

BTW
I found this and it looks the same as yours, except the kernel version:
root:# find /lib/modules/ -name *iscsi*
/lib/modules/2.6.22.14/kernel/drivers/scsi/libiscsi.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.22.14/kernel/drivers/scsi/iscsi_tcp.ko