483 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
483 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
The Loadlin+Win95/98/ME mini-HOWTO
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Authored by: Chris Fischer, protek@firstlinux.net
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v1.5.2, 21 Feb 2001
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This document describes how to use Loadlin with Windows 95/98/ME to
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boot to Linux.
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______________________________________________________________________
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Copyright
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1.2 New Versions Of This Document
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1.3 Feedback
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1.4 Disclaimer
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2. About Loadlin
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2.1 What is Loadlin?
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3. IMPORTANT: Preliminary Information and Setup
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3.1 Windows ME Users
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3.2 Things that are assumed:
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3.3 Items you need before you start:
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4. Getting started:
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4.1 Step One:
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4.2 Step Two:
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4.3 Step Three:
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5. Frequently Asked Questions:
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5.1 Where can I find more information on using Loadlin?
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5.2 I am not sure what partition Linux is installed on. How do I find out?
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5.3 Where do I find the kernel image file and how do I copy it to my MS-DOS partition?
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5.4 Does it matter if I install Linux or Windows 95/98/ME first?
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5.5 I currently have LILO installed, but I want to use Loadlin instead. How do I remove LILO?
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5.6 What if I already dual boot between Windows 95 and Windows 3.x, and I want to boot to Linux using this method?
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5.7 Is it possible to initiate Linux from the Windows 95/98/ME desktop?
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5.8 Where can I get a plain text version of this document?
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5.9 Is Loadlin the only alternative to LILO?
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6. Internationalization
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______________________________________________________________________
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1. Introduction
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This document describes a simple three step procedure for using
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Loadlin to dual boot between Linux and Windows 95/98/ME. If you prefer
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to use the LILO boot manager, please consult the Linux+Win95 Mini-
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HOWTO.
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This version of this mini-HOWTO has been completely rewritten with
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major differences from the previous version (1.4.6). The following
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highlight the major differences:
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· Name change. The Loadlin+Win95/98/ME mini-HOWTO was formerly known
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as "The Loadlin+Win95 mini-HOWTO. The change was made to more
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accurately reflect the topic covered herein.
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· The focus has changed from Win95 to Win98, and as a result this
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mini-HOWTO is simpler and easier to follow. Microsoft made some
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changes in the way Windows boots in Win98, which has made most of
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the dual boot methods for Win95 incompatable with Win98. If you
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still wish to see the Win95 specific mini-HOWTO you can view it
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here.
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· Change in copyright status from version 1.4.6
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1.1. Copyright
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Copyright (c) 1997-2001 Protek Computer Solutions. Permission is
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granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the
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terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later
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version published by the Free Software Foundation; with with the
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Invariant Sections being only "The Loadlin+Win95/98/ME mini-HOWTO".
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1.2. New Versions Of This Document
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This mini-HOWTO is posted first at The Linux+Windows 95 Reference
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Page <http://www.eskimo.com/~praxis>, so check there to make sure you
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have the most recent revision of this mini-HOWTO.
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1.3. Feedback
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Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. I am always looking
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for ways to improve and expand this mini-HOWTO. I rely heavily on
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feedback to make improvements, and will do my best to be prompt with a
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helpful response. I can be reached at protek@firstlinux.net.
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1.4. Disclaimer
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Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented
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in this mini-HOWTO is safe and accurate. However, this information is
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given without any warranty, either expressed or implied, as to its
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suitability for a particular use. It is generally considered a
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GoodThing(TM) to make backups of your system files before changing
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system configurations and/or files. I suggest you take this precaution
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"just in case".
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2. About Loadlin
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2.1. What is Loadlin?
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Loadlin is a simple DOS based utility that loads the Linux kernel into
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memory from DOS. Loadlin was written by Hans Lermen
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<http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/>. See the Loadlin-1.6 User's Guide
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<http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/manual.txt> for further details
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about Loadlin's features and how to use Loadlin.
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3. IMPORTANT: Preliminary Information and Setup
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3.1. Windows ME Users
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Before your read any further, I should mention that this mini-howto
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has some limitations with Windows ME. Based on feedback from Windows
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ME users, the menuing system described in the next section will only
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work from a Windows boot floppy instead of from the hard drive.
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Thanks to Olivier Guichard for pointing me to the relevant Microsoft
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article
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<http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q274/6/46.ASP>.
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Note that only the config.sys and autoexec.bat files need to be on the
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floppy disk. All other files mentioned may reside on the hard drive.
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If booting from a floppy is not an option for you, then please see the
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``FAQ'' section for alternatives to LILO and Loadlin.
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Any Windows ME users who can find a better way than using a floppy,
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please let me know your solution so I can include it in this mini-
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howto.
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3.2. Things that are assumed:
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· You have successfully installed Windows 95/98/ME.
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· Windows 95/98/ME is installed on Drive C.
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· You have successfully installed Linux.
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· You know what partition Linux is installed on.
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· LILO is NOT installed on your hard drive.
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3.3. Items you need before you start:
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· The Loadlin.exe program file
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· Your kernel image file, usually bzImage or vmlinuz. (See the
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``FAQ'' for info).
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4. Getting started:
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4.1. Step One:
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Edit (or create) config.sys on the root of Drive C. The contents
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should be similar to the following:
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______________________________________________________________________
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[menu]
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menuitem=Linux, Mandrake Linux 7.2
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menuitem=Win98, Windows 98
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menucolor=15,1
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menudefault=Win98, 10
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[linux]
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[win98]
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______________________________________________________________________
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If your system already has a config.sys file, put those contents under
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the [win98] section. The [linux] section is left blank intentionally.
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4.2. Step Two:
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Edit (or create) autoexec.bat on the root of Drive C. The contents
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should be similar to the following:
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goto %config%
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:linux
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call c:\linux.bat
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:win98
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______________________________________________________________________
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As above, if you aready have an autoexec.bat file, put those contents
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under the :win98 section.
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4.3. Step Three:
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Create a file called: linux.bat. Putting it in the root of Drive C is
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as good as place as any (but it can go anywhere so long as you
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reference the path or location). The contents should be similar to
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the following:
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______________________________________________________________________
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@echo off
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c:\loadlin c:\vmlinuz root=/dev/hda3 ro
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______________________________________________________________________
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The above example assumes that loadlin.exe and vmlinuz are located in
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the root of Drive C (or C:\) and that linux is installed on the
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/dev/hda3 partition. Your configuration may be different.
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The important thing here is to make sure that loadlin and your linux
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kernel file are properly referenced. Finished!
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That should work for you, as that is how I have things set up on my
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system, which dual boots with Win98.
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5. Frequently Asked Questions:
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5.1. Where can I find more information on using Loadlin?
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· Loadlin can be found on your favorite distibution's installation
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CD. Just do a search for 'loadlin'.
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· The Loadlin-1.6 User's Guide is available for download at:
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http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/manual.txt
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<http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/manual.txt>
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or
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ftp://ftp.eskimo.com/u/p/praxis/manual.txt
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· You might also try visiting the Loadlin Home Page
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<http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/>
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· Additional information is available at:
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http://metalab.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/BootPrompt-HOWTO-2.html#ss2.2
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5.2. I am not sure what partition Linux is installed on. How do I
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find out?
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· At a Linux shell prompt, run the df utility. If you see a line with
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/boot, then it will be quite obvious. If you do not see a line with
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/boot, then look on the line with a single "/".
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5.3. Where do I find the kernel image file and how do I copy it to my
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MS-DOS partition?
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· The kernel image file is usually called vmlinuz and should be
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located in the '/boot' directory. Often vmlinuz is a symbolic link
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to the actual kernel. If all else fails type:
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______________________________________________________________________
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find / -name vmlinuz*
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______________________________________________________________________
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at a Linux shell prompt. This will search all Linux partitions for the
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vmlinuz file. If you have multiple vmlinuz files, then make sure you
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use the correct one. If you are not sure, then the safest bet would be
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to use the most recent one.
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To copy your linux kernel file to your DOS partition, you need to make
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your DOS partition visible to Linux, then mount the partition if it is
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not already. Generally, this should have been set up when you
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installed Linux. All you need to do next is change to the directory
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the vmlinuz file is in and copy it over to DOS using the cp command.
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However, if Linux was not set up to recognize your DOS partition, then
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copy vmlinuz to a floppy. Take any DOS formatted floppy (with enough
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disk space to hold your kernel image file) and insert it into your
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floppy drive. Type:
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______________________________________________________________________
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mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy
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______________________________________________________________________
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at a Linux shell prompt. Then change to the directory your kernel
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image file is in and type:
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______________________________________________________________________
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cp vmlinuz /mnt/floppy
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______________________________________________________________________
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This will copy vmlinuz to your floppy disk and it will be readable by
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DOS. Shutdown Linux, boot to DOS, then copy vmlinuz to whichever
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directory you choose. If you recompile your kernel, do not forget to
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copy the new kernel image file to your DOS partition. This will
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overwrite your old file, so it might be a good idea to rename the old
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file first just in case the new one does not work properly.
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Alternatively, if you have the mtools utilities you could type:
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______________________________________________________________________
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mcopy vmlinuz a:
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______________________________________________________________________
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5.4. Does it matter if I install Linux or Windows 95/98/ME first?
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· Technically no. However, it would be much simpler to install
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Windows first. That way it is easier to setup Linux to recognize
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your DOS partition(s) as you can usually do this during the Linux
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installation.
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5.5. do I remove LILO? I currently have LILO installed, but I want
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to use Loadlin instead. How
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· You will need to restore the Win95 MBR (Master Boot Record) that
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LILO overwrote when you installed LILO. At a DOS prompt type:
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______________________________________________________________________
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fdisk /mbr
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______________________________________________________________________
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5.6. want to boot to Linux using this method? What if I already dual
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boot between Windows 95 and Windows 3.x, and I
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· Frankly, if you want to do this I would recommend using LILO.
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However, if you really do not want to use LILO, you will have to
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boot to Win 3.x first, then issue the Loadlin command. (Make sure
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Windows 3.x is NOT running, but that you are in DOS 5.0 or 6.x).
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5.7. Is it possible to initiate Linux from the Windows 95/98/ME desk
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top?
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· Yes. First, create a batch file called "linux.bat", for example.
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Edit the file to contain a Loadlin command such as:
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______________________________________________________________________
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loadlin f:\vmlinuz root=/dev/hdc2 ro
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______________________________________________________________________
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Now save the file on your Windows desktop. Next, right click on the
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Linux.bat icon, then left click on Properties. Now click on the
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Program tab, then click on the Advanced button. Click on the box next
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to "MS-DOS mode" and make sure the box next to "Warn before entering
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MS-DOS mode is checked". Click OK, then click on OK again. Now when
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you double click on the Linux icon, a warning box will appear before
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going into MS-DOS mode. If you click on "Yes" then Windows enters MS-
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DOS mode and executes the Linux.bat file.
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NOTE: You must be in MS-DOS mode in order to use Loadlin. Please see
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the manual.txt file mentioned in ``Section 4.1'' of this ``FAQ'' for
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more information.
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5.8. Where can I get a plain text version of this document?
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· You can get a plain text version of this document at:
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ftp://ftp.eskimo.com/u/p/praxis/loadlin.txt
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5.9. Is Loadlin the only alternative to LILO?
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· No. There are other utilities you could use for dual booting:
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GRUB: The GNU GRand Unified Bootloader
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XOSL: Extended Operating System Loader
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Other Bootloaders and Related Links
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6. Internationalization
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Currently there is an Italian translation
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<http://www.eskimo.com/~praxis/Loadlin+Win95-98-ME-Italian.html> of
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version 1.5.0 of this mini-HOWTO, translated by Michele Martiradonna.
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Any effort to translate this mini-HOWTO into other languages will be
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greatly appreciated. If you are interested in taking on such a task,
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please e-mail me at: protek@firstlinux.net.
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