Linux over 2k.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shrenik Shah
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Shrenik Shah

Hello.
I tried to install linux over 2k that was formatted using
NTFS on 2 partitions.
after installation of RedHat 9 when it booted for the last
time, it got stuck on "stage2 loading..." It stayed there
that was for about 15 minutes and then i got GRUB> prompt.
I thought there was some problem with the GRUB boot loader
since i installed linux over win2k's NTFS partitions.
I looked on google and it gave me hints no how to
reinstall the boot loader. Nothing worked. I reinstalled
linux on a RAW HD, and same error. I made partitions
automatically and then manually and again same error. I
have like done fresh installation 7 times and after
installation it stucks on the same "Stage2 loading.."
error. I tried using LILO and it would get stuck to L and
then nothing.
Same CD's of linux used on a machine in office works fine.
I checked hardware list to check if my hardware is being
supported by linux and its all fine.
OK, this shouldnt be posted in here, but i am stuck. Any
suggestions?
Thanks.
 
Shrenik said:
Hello.
I tried to install linux over 2k that was formatted using
NTFS on 2 partitions.
after installation of RedHat 9 when it booted for the last
time, it got stuck on "stage2 loading..." It stayed there
that was for about 15 minutes and then i got GRUB> prompt.
I thought there was some problem with the GRUB boot loader
since i installed linux over win2k's NTFS partitions.
I looked on google and it gave me hints no how to
reinstall the boot loader. Nothing worked. I reinstalled
linux on a RAW HD, and same error. I made partitions
automatically and then manually and again same error. I
have like done fresh installation 7 times and after
installation it stucks on the same "Stage2 loading.."
error. I tried using LILO and it would get stuck to L and
then nothing.
Same CD's of linux used on a machine in office works fine.
I checked hardware list to check if my hardware is being
supported by linux and its all fine.
OK, this shouldnt be posted in here, but i am stuck. Any
suggestions?
Thanks.
Click to expand...


If the W2k was already installed, then there is no need to install
GRUB or LILO for booting linux. Windows NT Loader can act as a boot
loader for you linux.
For this to work, you must install the boot sector on the linux
partition rather than the Master Boot Record (MBR). Then you can
import that sector onto your boot.ini file.

One such program for importing is Bootpart. There are many articles on
google for this , just search. If you cannot find anything I'll mail you
the pages.


--
Winners dont do different things, they do things differently.

Madhur Ahuja
India

Homepage : http://madhur.netfirms.com
Email : madhur<underscore>ahuja<at>yahoo<dot>com
 
No, no. I completely removed win2k after deleting all
partitions. Now all i have is 20 GB of free space on my
HD. Then i fresh installed linux and it wont boot!
 
Shrenik Shah said:
No, no. I completely removed win2k after deleting all
partitions. Now all i have is 20 GB of free space on my
HD. Then i fresh installed linux and it wont boot!
Click to expand...

You have a situation where your boot loader is crashing.
Stage2 is a message you get while grub is loading, when it's working ok.
While I run Linux, I've never had a problem anything like this.
I would have said to check the MD5 of the CD's but if you have used them on
other machines, they must be ok.
It could also be some kind of bios problem. If it were Windows, I'd guess
that, but Linux hardly uses the bios at all anyway.
I would persue that, since neither boot loader works.

Have you tried to boot off your install cd and recover your system that way?
You can even boot off the install CD, then shift control to your Hard Disk
install. Have you tried to boot off a floppy? You did make a boot floppy
during the RedHat install?
If you could boot, then look at a file /var/spool/log/messages, you might
find something. I don't know if Grub keeps a log file, but I would look in
/boot for it.

You did post this question on a LINUX newsgroup, didn't you?
It is likely that they have someone who is a real expert on grub problems
there.
Also the Grub website or mailing lists.

Dick Kistler
 
I am totally new with Linux. I am right now doing
extensive search on google just trying to boot linux so i
can see what linux's desktop looks like :-)
I have the following info if it might help.

Yes i have created a boot floppy disk. (Booting off a
floppy disk puts me on Boot: prompt. How can i divert the
boot from HD then?
Thanks.
-----Original Message-----



You have a situation where your boot loader is crashing.
Stage2 is a message you get while grub is loading, when it's working ok.
While I run Linux, I've never had a problem anything like this.
I would have said to check the MD5 of the CD's but if you have used them on
other machines, they must be ok.
It could also be some kind of bios problem. If it were Windows, I'd guess
that, but Linux hardly uses the bios at all anyway.
I would persue that, since neither boot loader works.

Have you tried to boot off your install cd and recover your system that way?
You can even boot off the install CD, then shift control to your Hard Disk
install. Have you tried to boot off a floppy? You did make a boot floppy
during the RedHat install?
If you could boot, then look at a
Click to expand...
file /var/spool/log/messages, you might
 
Shrenik Shah said:
I am totally new with Linux. I am right now doing
extensive search on google just trying to boot linux so i
can see what linux's desktop looks like :-)
I have the following info if it might help.
Click to expand...

It might be easier to boot off the install cd. Read the options available,
then pick the one that lets you boot off the CD and attach your hd
root partition. It will eventually tell you the command to switch to your
HD's
kernel.

If you are uncertain how, go to the RedHat website and read some
documentation.

I'm having to do this from memory, since I haven't used Redhat 9
in quite awhile, and Fedora has its own recovery CD. You might
think of getting Fedora Core 2 if you are interested in a RedHat
distribution, since RedHat 9 isn't supported any more.

Again, this would be better done in a linux.redhat newsgroup, you
would get info from the real experts there.

Dick
 
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