[2024-feb-29] Sad news: Eric Layton aka Nocturnal Slacker aka vtel57 passed away on Feb 26th, shortly after hospitalization. He was one of our Wiki's most prominent admins. He will be missed.

Welcome to the Slackware Documentation Project

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slackbook:booting [2012/09/05 05:04 (UTC)] – [Dual Booting] updated with original text alignment and formatting mfillpotslackbook:booting [2012/09/11 01:11 (UTC)] – Made key commands explicit mfillpot
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 installer, but you can run it at any time from a terminal. installer, but you can run it at any time from a terminal.
  
-{{ :slackware:setup_lilo_cl.png?550 |}}+{{ :slackbook:setup-lilo.png?550 |}}
  
 **//liloconfig//** has two modes of operation: **//liloconfig//** has two modes of operation:
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 ==== Dual Booting with Partitions ==== ==== Dual Booting with Partitions ====
  
-In order to set up a dual-boot system with each operating system on its own partition, you must first create partitions. This is easiest if done prior to installing the first operating system, in which case it's a simple case of pre-planning and carving up your hard drive as you feel necessary. See the section called “[[slackbook:install#Partitioning|Partitioning]]” for information on using the fdisk or cfdisk partitioning applications.+In order to set up a dual-boot system with each operating system on 
 +its own partition, you must first create partitions. This is easiest 
 +if done prior to installing the first operating system, in which 
 +case it's a simple case of pre-planning and carving up your hard 
 +drive as you feel necessary. See [[slackbook:install#partitioning|the section called “Partitioning]] for 
 +information on using the **//fdisk//** or 
 +**//cfdisk//** partitioning applications. 
  
 <note important> <note important>
-If you're dual booting two Linux distributions, it is inadvisable to attempt to share a /home directory between the systems. While it is technically possible, doing so will increase the chance of your personal configurations from becoming mauled by competing desktop environments or versions. +If you're dual booting two Linux distributions, it is inadvisable 
-</note>+to attempt to share a /home directory between the 
 +systems. While it is technically possible, doing so will increase 
 +the chance of your personal configurations from becoming mauled by 
 +competing desktop environments or versions.
  
 It is, however, safe to use a common swap partition. It is, however, safe to use a common swap partition.
 +</note>
  
 You should partition your drive into at least three parts: You should partition your drive into at least three parts:
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   * One partition for swap   * One partition for swap
  
-First, install Slackware Linux onto the first partition of the hard drive as described in [[slackbook:install]|Chapter 2, Installation]].+First, install Slackware Linux onto the first partition of the hard 
 +drive as described in [[slackbook:install]|Chapter 2, Installation]].
  
-After Slackware has been installed, booted, and you've confirmed that everything works as expected, then reboot to the installer for the second OS. This OS will invariably offer to utilize the entire drive; you obviously do not want to do that, so constrain it to only the second partition. Furthermore, the OS will attempt to install a boot loader to the beginning of the hard drive, overwriting LILO. 
  
-You have a few possible courses of action with regards to the boot loader:+After Slackware has been installed, booted, and you've confirmed 
 +that everything works as expected, then reboot to the installer for 
 +the second OS. This OS will invariably offer to utilize the entire 
 +drive; you obviously do **not** want to do that, so 
 +constrain it to only the second partition. Furthermore, the OS will 
 +attempt to install a boot loader to the beginning of the hard drive, 
 +overwriting LILO. 
 + 
 + 
 +You have a few possible courses of action with regards to the boot 
 +loader:
  
 **Possible Boot Loader Scenarios** **Possible Boot Loader Scenarios**
  
-**If the secondary OS is Linux, disallow it from installing a boot manager.** +**If the secondary OS is Linux, disallow it from installing a boot 
-If you're dual booting to another Linux distribution, the installer of that distribution usually asks if you want a boot loader installed. You're certainly free to not install a boot manager for it at all, and manually manage both Slackware and the other distribution with LILO.+manager.** \\ 
 +If you're dual booting to another Linux distribution, the 
 +installer of that distribution usually asks if you want a boot 
 +loader installed. You're certainly free to not install a boot 
 +manager for it at all, and manually manage both Slackware and 
 +the other distribution with LILO.
  
-Depending on the distribution, you might be editing LILO more frequently than you would if you were only running Slackware; some distributions are notorious for frequent kernel updates, meaning that you'll need to edit LILO to reflect the new configuration after such an update. But if you didn't want to edit configuration files every now and again, you probably wouldn't have chosen Slackware.+ 
 +Depending on the distribution, you might be editing LILO more 
 +frequently than you would if you were only running Slackware; 
 +some distributions are notorious for frequent kernel updates, 
 +meaning that you'll need to edit LILO to reflect the new 
 +configuration after such an update. But if you didn't want to 
 +edit configuration files every now and again, you probably 
 +wouldn't have chosen Slackware. 
  
 **If the secondary OS is Linux, let it overwrite LILO with GRUB.** **If the secondary OS is Linux, let it overwrite LILO with GRUB.**
  
-If you're dual booting to another Linux distribution, you are perfectly capable of just using GRUB rather than LILO, or install Slackware last and use LILO for both. Both LILO and GRUB have very good auto-detection features, so whichever one gets installed last should pick up the other distribution's presence and make an entry for it.+If you're dual booting to another Linux distribution, you are 
 +perfectly capable of just using GRUB rather than LILO, or 
 +install Slackware last and use LILO for both. Both LILO and GRUB 
 +have very good auto-detection features, so whichever one gets 
 +installed last should pick up the other distribution's presence 
 +and make an entry for it.
  
-Since other distributions often attempt to auto-update their GRUB menus, there is always the chance that during an update something will become maligned and you suddenly find you can't boot into Slackware. If this happens, don't panic; just boot into the other Linux partition and manually edit GRUB so that it points to the correct partition, kernel, and initrd (if applicable) for Slackware in its menu. 
  
-**Allow the secondary OS to overwrite LILO and go back later to manually re-install and re-configure LILO.**+Since other distributions often attempt to auto-update their 
 +GRUB menus, there is always the chance that during an update 
 +something will become maligned and you suddenly find you can'
 +boot into Slackware. If this happens, don't panic; just boot 
 +into the other Linux partition and manually edit GRUB so that it 
 +points to the correct partition, kernel, and initrd (if 
 +applicable) for Slackware in its menu.
  
-This is not a bad choice, especially when Windows is the secondary OS, but potential pitfalls are that when Windows updates itself, it may attempt to overwrite the MBR (master boot record) again, and you'll have to re-install LILO manually again.+**Allow the secondary OS to overwrite LILO and go back later to 
 +manually re-install and re-configure LILO. **
  
-To re-establish LILO after another OS has erased it, you can boot from your Slackware install media and enter the setup stage. Do not re-partition your drive or re-install Slackware; skip immediately to the section called “[[slackbook:install#the_setup_program|Configure]]”.+This is not a bad choice, especially when Windows is the 
 +secondary OS, but potential pitfalls are that when Windows 
 +updates itself, it may attempt to overwrite the MBR (master boot record) 
 +againand you'll have to re-install LILO manually again.
  
-Even when using the "simple" option to install, LILO should detect both operating systems and automatically configure a sensible menu for you. If it fails, then add the entries yourself.+ 
 +To re-establish LILO after another OS has erased it, you can 
 +boot from your Slackware install media and enter the setup 
 +stage. Do <emphasis>not</emphasis> re-partition your drive or 
 +re-install Slackware; skip immediately to [[slackbook:install#the_setup_program|Configure]].  
 + 
 + 
 +Even when using the //"simple"// option to install, LILO 
 +should detect both operating systems and automatically configure 
 +a sensible menu for you. If it fails, then add the entries 
 +yourself.
 ==== Dual Booting from Hard Drives ==== ==== Dual Booting from Hard Drives ====
  
-Dual booting between different physical hard drives is often easier than with partitions since the computer's BIOS or EFI almost invariably has a boot device chooser that allows you to interrupt the boot process immediately after POST and choose what drive should get priority.+Dual booting between different physical hard drives is often 
 +easier than with partitions since the computer's BIOS or EFI 
 +almost invariably has a boot device chooser that allows you to 
 +interrupt the boot process immediately after POST and choose what 
 +drive should get priority. 
 + 
 + 
 +The snag key to enter the boot picker is different for each brand 
 +of motherboard; consult the motherboard's manual or read the 
 +splash screen to find out what your computer requires. Typical 
 +keys are <key>'F1'</key>, <key>'F12'</key>, 
 +<key>'DEL'</key>. For Apple computers, it is always the 
 +<key>'Option'</key> (Alt) key. 
 + 
 + 
 +If you manage the boot priority via BIOS or EFI, then each boot 
 +loader on each hard drive is only aware of its own drive and will 
 +never interfere with one another. This is rather contrary to what 
 +a boot loader is designed to do but can be a useful workaround 
 +when dealing with proprietary operating systems which insist upon 
 +being the only OS on the system, to the detriment of the user'
 +preference. 
  
-The snag key to enter the boot picker is different for each brand of motherboard; consult the motherboard's manual or read the splash screen to find out what your computer requires. Typical keys are **F1, F12DEL**For Apple computers, it is always the **Option** (Alt) key.+If you don't have the luxury of having multiple internal hard 
 +drives and don't feel comfortable juggling another partition and 
 +OS on your computer, you might also consider using a bootable USB thumbdrive or even a 
 +virtual machine to give you access to another OSBoth of these 
 +options is outside the scope of this book, but they've commonplace 
 +and might be the right choice for you, depending on your needs.
  
-If you manage the boot priority via BIOS or EFI, then each boot loader on each hard drive is only aware of its own drive and will never interfere with one another. This is rather contrary to what a boot loader is designed to do but can be a useful workaround when dealing with proprietary operating systems which insist upon being the only OS on the system, to the detriment of the user's preference. 
  
-If you don't have the luxury of having multiple internal hard drives and don't feel comfortable juggling another partition and OS on your computer, you might also consider using a bootable USB thumbdrive or even a virtual machine to give you access to another OS. Both of these options is outside the scope of this book, but they've commonplace and might be the right choice for you, depending on your needs.+====== Chapter Navigation ====== 
 +**Previous Chapter: [[slackbook:install|Installation]]**
  
 +**Next Chapter: [[slackbook:shell|Basic Shell Commands]]**
 ====== Sources ====== ====== Sources ======
 <!-- If you copy information from another source, then specify that source --> <!-- If you copy information from another source, then specify that source -->
- * Original source: [[http://www.slackbook.org/beta/#ch_boot]] + * Original source: [[http://www.slackbook.org/beta]] \\
 <!-- Authors are allowed to give credit to themselves! --> <!-- Authors are allowed to give credit to themselves! -->
-<!-- * Originally written by [[wiki:user:xxx | User X]] -->+ * Originally written by Alan Hicks, Chris Lumens, David Cantrell, Logan Johnson
 <!-- * Contrbutions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] --> <!-- * Contrbutions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] -->
  
 slackbook:booting ()