Arrgh, Linux install problem...

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-13 11:54am

I finally downloaded a Linux (Slackware specifically), and now it's giving me boot problems. Everything seemed to be OK, recognized my network adapter, partitioned well, easy install, except that now when I boot the BIOS gives me:

"Error loading operating system"

Any of you experts know what's going on? The partition table is like this:

/dev/hda1 = Dell Utility partition (Primary), 32mb
/dev/hda2 = /boot partition, ext3 (Primary), 32mb
/dev/hda3 = Extended partition
/dev/hda5 = Linux root partition, ext3, 9gb (Logical)
/dev/hda6 = /home partition, ext3, 30gb (Logical)
/dev/hda7 = Linux swap, 1gb (Logical)

Please keep in mind...Linux is a whole new world for me. I've used Windows for my entire computer life, save for a shell account I bought very long ago.

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-13 12:04pm

Update: It boots from the emergency floppy I created during install. Seems like something's gone futzy with the MBR of the Hard Drive... I dunno.

Oh, and /dev/hda2 is marked as a bootable partition. Sorry, didn't include that.

Terr Fangbite · Post by **Terr Fangbite** » 2004-08-13 12:56pm

I might try reinstalling it and letting linux determine what everything is. I've found that beginners just need to say what space they want to use, then tell linux to just auto it. Other than that, it may be that part of your harddrive is bad (i had a similar problem till i found out one of the sectors which boot was put on was corrupted)

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-13 01:06pm

Nope, the hard drive is alright, I did a check beforehand and everything seemed to be in order.

I have to reinstall Linux anyway; didn't get the partition sizes right. Let's see how this new one goes...

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-13 07:12pm

Nevermind, after a whole lot of setting up I've finally fixed this.