Public SourceMage Discussion List

[Doubletwist <doubletwist AT spack.nu>]

Wyatt Draggoo wrote:

> Maybe we should find out if we should switch the default to disc instead of
> part.  I have *never* put LILO on anything but the MBR, and have to change
> it during the install every time.  If the majority of the folks installing
> SMGL are the same, we could change the default lilo.conf, and add a notice
> saying we did so to the installer.
>  

Actually this may be a Bad Idea(tm)...
While for YEARS I had no problem using lilo on the MBR, that all changed 
with WinXP.
If I have WinXP and the install linux and use lilo in the MBR, it hoses 
my WinXP partition.

It may have something to do with the way WinXP partitions the disk. I 
remember reading somewhere about the fact that when DOS partitioned the 
disk, it didn't start on the first sector. It left the first cylinder 
empty. In addition to the MBR, things like Lilo use that first cyl.
Some non-MS OSes may not leave that cyl open, and it's possible [not 
sure though] that with XP, windows has started to use that as well. 
[Possibly on purpose, who knows].

Anyway, I think the best option would be for a menu item to choose if 
the user wants it installed in the MBR or on a bootable linux partition, 
with good descriptions of the pro's and con's of each.

DT



>