Linux/98SE Dual OS question........

[Speed_Freak]

I am currently trying to run a Linux/98SE setup. However, when I set the partions, I receive a 1028th (or something like that) cylinder error. I don't know what the hell it's talking about??? I heard somewhere that you have to set the partition at a certain point or some crap like that. I have a 40GB IBM Deskstar ATA100 7200 RPM hard drive. Can anyone help me?!?!?!??

[ken257]

The cylinder limitation is because the OS wants to be within If I remember the first 8 gig of the HD. What Linux distro do you have? With most of the latest distro's like Mandrake and SuSE LILO and Grub have been fixed so that you can have Linux anyplace on the HD without problems. For example on my dual boot setup XP/SuSE 7.2 my XP partition takes up the first 20 gig(40gig drive) and Linux is installed after that.

[klosters64a]

This is known as the 1023rd cylinder limitation. It's safer to assume that your flavor of Linux is bound by this rule. In other words, your primary Windows "C:\" partition can't be bigger than 7.5 Gigs.

Older Linux versions have to be able to install LILO, aka LInux LOader in the Master Boot Record. For some reason, the C:\ Windows partition can't use more of the drive that lays beyond the 1024th cylinder for LILO to install in the MBR of the HDD. LILO works great for giving you the option to boot into 98SE or Linux. It can't be beat. However, if you just gotta have a 37 Gig Windows partition, which will leave only 3 Gb for the Linux partition, you still can boot into Linux. Just create a boot floppy to get you into Linux. The opportunity to do so will be presented to you during Linux installation. Make this Linux boot floppy anyway, even if you will install LILO!

It's easiest to install W98 first---THEN install Linux. Linux and LILO don't hijack the MBR. Win98 does. It removes LILO if it's already there.

[minoukat]

Can Corel Linux be placed anywhere ? And can I dual boot it with Windows ME ?

[Speed_Freak]

Cool, thanx for the FB. btw, im using the latest release of Red Hat Linux. so I need to install 98SE first then use LILO to set the partition for Linux? Also, i have another quick question. Does anyone know a good site that I can download shells and whatnot for Linux Red Hat?? All the ones I've seen and found are only so so. Thanx again for your imput...now...back to homework.

[klosters64a]

minoukat, I don't know if Corel's flavor of Linux lets you break the old 1023rd cylinder rule. Sorry. I'm sure you can dual boot Linux and Me, let's hope that someone who has will respond to your Q.

Speed_Freak, it's easier to install WinSE before Linux. I'd be surprised if the latest release of Red Hat is bound by the olde 1023rd cylinder limitation!
LILO is the LInux LOader, which gives you the option of booting into Linux or Windows. It has nothing to do with partitioning your HDD's--but I think I do understand your question.

Most modern releases of Linux will do the necessary partitioning needed to create(usually three)partitions for Linux automagically. They will leave your pre-existing Win installation alone. However, they will ask for your confirmation before they erase or create new partitions. *Be Careful* at this point. If you have 98 already installed, and it's on one C:\ partition, Linux will ID this Win partition as "/dev/hda1." In this case, the first Linux partition will be ID'd as "/dev/hda2."

Don't worry. With only MS OS experience under your belt, Linux is weird. If you try to enjoy this weirdness, you're way ahead of the game!

[Speed_Freak]

Again, thanks. Yeah, I looked up a bunch of stuff on the net and I downloaded the newest release of Red Hat and everything went well. I'll admit, this is my first time with Linux. I've used UNIX and OS' like Solaris and junk but I've never tried to dual run a UNIX-like/DOS dual system. So far, I've learned alot. I'll keep hammering through it till I get it. Wish me luck....

[PolyPill]

Simple fix:

Once linux is installed and you try to boot for the first time use a boot disk. edit you /etc/lilo.con and add the line lba32 run the command lilo

That will fix it unless you've got a version of lilo that was released before 1998.

[doublec16]

The /boot partition has to be within the first 1024 cylinders to be able to boot to either operating system easily. The other Linux partitions can be anywhere, but I believe the primary Win98 partition has to be at the beginning of the disk.