How to Edit LILO to Boot Linux by default

[leegold]

Hi,

I have XP and Salix dual boot.

Salix install by default sets up LILO to boot Windows partition by default. I want to make Lilo boot Salix by default I also want to have more time at the LILO window 10 sec instead of 5 sec. I tried to edit /etc/lilo.conf and rebooted but that did not change anything.

I Googled it and searched the forum but maybe I missed it. Appreciate help. I tried flipping the order of "# Windows bootable partition config begins" and # Linux bootable partition config begins" but it didn't make a difference.

Thanks

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# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
# Append any additional kernel parameters:
append="quiet  vt.default_utf8=1"
boot = /dev/sda

# Boot BMP Image.
# Bitmap in BMP format: 640x480x8
  bitmap = /boot/salix.bmp
# Menu colors (foreground, background, shadow, highlighted
# foreground, highlighted background, highlighted shadow):
  bmp-colors = 255,20,255,20,255,20
# Location of the option table: location x, location y, number of
# columns, lines per column (max 15), "spill" (this is how many
# entries must be in the first column before the next begins to
# be used.  We don't specify it here, as there's just one column.
  bmp-table = 60,6,1,16
# Timer location x, timer location y, foreground color,
# background color, shadow color.
  bmp-timer = 65,29,0,255

# Standard menu.
# Or, you can comment out the bitmap menu above and 
# use a boot message with the standard menu:
#message = /boot/boot_message.txt

# Wait until the timeout to boot (if commented out, boot the
# first entry immediately):
prompt
# Timeout before the first entry boots.
# This is given in tenths of a second, so 600 for every minute:
timeout = 100
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
  reset
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/sda6
  label = Linux
  read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/sda1
  label = Windows
  table = /dev/sda
# Windows bootable partition config ends

Thanks

[aurlaent]

After editing /etc/lilo.conf you need to run lilo again to make the changes to the bootloader.

If that's not the issue, then try

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man lilo.conf

[djemos]

open a terminal

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su
type root's password
lilo -v

reboot your system

[sojurn]

... I tried to edit /etc/lilo.conf and rebooted but that did not change anything. ...

The difference is that grub (and maybe windows, I don't know) boots in two stages, the second stage being to read the config file, which is why you can change a config file in grub and a reboot will see that.

Lilo is different, it uses the config file to write the booter, but not during boot. Which is why you have to rewrite the booter if you make any change in the config file - otherwise it will not see the changes you made.

I chain-load from an oldish boot manager to lilo in a root partition. Lilo is small and can fit anywhere, doesn't care in the least if that is a root partition, grub gives dire warnings about doing that - but then does it anyway.

But Lilo doesn't use its config file during boot, that is the main thing to remember.

[mimosa]

If you still have trouble,use lilosetup. You may need to install it then as root:

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lilosetup.py