Windows Overwrites Linux Boot Manager

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Windows on a computer that has the Linux operating system installed, Windows may overwrite or deactivate the Linux boot manager (LILO, or Linux Loader). As a result, you can no longer access the Linux operating system.

CAUSE

The Linux boot manager (LILO) can be installed in two ways. It can be installed to the hard disk's Master Boot Record (MBR), or to the root directory or superblock (in Linux terminology) of the Linux partition. A superblock installation means that the Linux partition should be the active partition. Windows Setup makes the primary MS-DOS partition in which it is installed the active partition, causing LILO to be bypassed.

If LILO is installed in the MBR, it is overwritten by Windows Setup.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, use one of the following methods:

• If LILO was installed to the MBR, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. Restart the computer using a bootable Linux floppy disk.
  
  
  
  2. Run the LILOCONFIG program from the floppy drive.
  
  
  



• If LILO was installed to the superblock, use the FDISK command to activate the Linux partition.

MORE INFORMATION

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Additional query words: 98 wwt

Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbsetup diskmem win95 win98se 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: May 20, 1999