linux LILO help

[mws5872]

I just got a laptop computer that is supposed to have windows 98 and linux suse for operating systems using LILO. The only problem is I am not familar with LILO and I do not know how to get it to boot from the windows rather than the linux thanks!

 

[franklin97355]

Check the lilo.conf file and check the lilo documentation. Someone should be on here to give you the exact verbage.

 

[Chacalinc]

1. edit lilo.conf
#vi /etc/lilo.conf

there is a line:

default=linux

2. change it in order to have:

default=other

3. issue as root:

# lilo

there should be lines as:

other=/dev/hda1
optional
label=Other

.. in lilo.conf
this is your windows boot. So, replacing "linux" with "other" your are telling to lilo that your default boot is the "other=/dev/hda1" (Windows) and not "linux=/dev/hda2"

Cheers.

 

[mws5872]

ok only problem is i cant boot to any operating system at all so I dont know how I can get to edit it. Because I got this from my g/f's dad with those 2 operating systems and he forgot the root password and its an older version of SUSE. so I dont know how I can edit that then thanks guys!

 

[Chacalinc]

boot with knoppix or suse isntaller (in rescue mode), mount the partition in /mnt/temp and edit the /etc/passwd file in order to erase the password for root.

 

[mws5872]

see thats another problem......I dont currently have the CD-rom or floppy for this until he finds it I feel so dead in the water....

 

[Chacalinc]

jejeje ... do you have another PC and a CD burner? download Debian minimal... or knowppix, or whatever from internet..

Cheers.

 

[mws5872]

unless some how I could hook it up to another computer serially or something...... im not sure let me know guys if any of you have AIM im shadowxy99 I appreciate all the help!

 

[mws5872]

yes I do with knoppix too.

 

[mws5872]

but what would I do now?

 

[manarth]

you need to boot this PC. You can't connect it serially because there's no program listening on the serial port - and you can't login to install one.

Find yourself a CD-ROM drive, or even a floppy drive. Without one, you're stuffed. The only other alternative would be to take the hard drive out, and put it in a machine which does have a CD-ROM / Floppy drive.

Then:
- boot using the knoppix CD
- edit the /etc/lilo.conf file, as per Chacalinc's post
- execute the command 'lilo' (you may need 'sudo lilo')
- edit the /etc/passwd file to remove the root password
- remove the knoppix cd, boot up, login as root, and set a new password!

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please tell us if our suggestion has helped[/li][li]need some help? faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[mws5872]

thanks guys, but he finally remembered the password and now I got the floppy