Red Hat Linux · DIGIT-ARC

I have just installed Red Hat Linux 9 .

When I installed it I did not write the Boot loader to the MBR instead I selected the first sector on the partition.

As the setup was coming to an end I was prompted to create a boot disk.

Now, what is happeninig is that if the boot disk is not inserted in my computer it directly loads Windows without giving me the option for loading Linux.

Is there any way to do away with this method of inserting the floppy for Linux to load.

However, I dont want to modify the MBR also.

Thanks

The best way to try Linux and not install it on the hard disk is to try out a live CD.. you could try out ubuntu 5.04 live CD.. and if u like it then u can install it

Otherwise without booting via floppy or disturbing the MBR, i don't think u can boot into linux.

why don't you want to modify mbr ?
when you install RH Linux 9, let it install the grub bootloader onto the mbr of your hard drive. That way, each time when you start your computer, you'll get the menu to boot into windows or linux.

otherwise, you will have to keep a boot floppy.

besides, if you are scared of installing grub on the mbr, you can try the live cd of some other linux distro, as mail2and suggested.

There is another solution!!!

But it applies only if u r running windows nt, 2000 or xp.

Here it is:

1. Boot into linux using ur floppy.
2. Go to the root terminal.
3. Type fdisk -l
4. Now note down the partition on which u installed the boot loader (suppose its hda6)
5. Put a blank formatted floppy in the floppy drive.
6. Type the following command in the root terminal:

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/mnt/floppy/redhat.img bs=512 count=1

It will show 1 records in, one records out... something like that!!
7. Now boot into windows.
9. Copy redhat.img from the floppy onto C:\
9. Find boot.ini (its a hidden, system file in c:\)
10. Now at the end, add the following line:

Code:

C:\redhat.img="RedHat"

11. Now save and restart windows.
12. Yu should now get an option to boot into RedHat!

Please post back if it doesnt work!

Thanks Kaplik ,

It worked .

Thanks a lot . You saved me of a lot of troubles

Sure no prob! BTW, its "Kalpik", not "Kaplik"!!!

Sorry to Bump this thread but

Kalpik ,

Is there anyway to do the same thing in Ubuntu 5.04

U

You can use the same method, it will work fine.

Hi! Yeah its exactly the same! It works for EVERY linux distro! Just try the same steps!

instead of:

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/mnt/floppy/redhat.img bs=512 count=1

use:

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/mnt/floppy/ubuntu.img bs=512 count=1

and instead of:

Code:

C:\redhat.img="RedHat"

use:

Code:

C:\ubuntu.img="Ubuntu"

thats it!

Just be sure you have root priviledges on Ubuntu (use "sudo" in front of the command "dd")

Post back (and send me a pm too

) if u need more help!

Take care!

Thanks for the help

kalpik said:
Hi! Yeah its exactly the same! It works for EVERY linux distro! Just try the same steps!

instead of:

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/mnt/floppy/redhat.img bs=512 count=1

use:

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/mnt/floppy/ubuntu.img bs=512 count=1

and instead of:

Code:

C:\redhat.img="RedHat"

use:

Code:

C:\ubuntu.img="Ubuntu"

thats it!

Just be sure you have root priviledges on Ubuntu (use "sudo" in front of the command "dd")

Post back (and send me a pm too ) if u need more help!

Take care!

Thanks mate...