Tri Boot (Xp/Troppix/backtrack)

[BlackNinja]

"Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and give up your monopoly on fisheries."-some guy


So Atheros chipset based cards are having mystery issues.
Thanks to 50F03 I found out Troppix 1.2 had a stable HD install.
Thanks to Katch and muts I learned all about Lilo and what happens if you botch it.

Hardware:
Dell Latitude D600 (ipw2100 disabled)
PM 1.3ghz
256 ram
20gig HD

For dual boot skip steps 3 and 6

Step 1: Get plenty of rest and then, partition your HD.
-I made one NTFS, two Linux ext3, one swap, and one FAT32 with the leftover space. A FAT32 partition is by no means necessary but both Linux and Windows can read as well as write to it. This comes in handy for Dictionaries, capture files, password dump files, documentation ect.

Step 2: Install Windows to your NTFS partition.
-If you cant do this without help, stop right now, AOL pwns you.

Step 3: Install Troppix to one of the ext3 partitions.
-Boot up the Troppix (1.2) livecd and use the HD installer in "start menu>system".
-Remember which hda it installs to. :rolleyes:
-On the first try I installed Troppix last with GRUB, it caused BackTrack to lockup instantly when attempting to boot. I didn't try to find out why.

Step 4: Install Back|Track.
-Boot up the livecd and use the HD install.
-Install it to the other hda. (Not the one with Troppix or strange things happen.)
-Reboot into Back|Track

Step 5: Installing Lilo (Thanks to Katch and muts.)
-Code:

liloconfig

-follow the GUI - choose simple, your resolution and install to mbr
Lilo will complain and fail but do not worry!
-Code:

nano /etc/lilo.conf

-Dont cheat and use the text editor or you'll never learn.

-Change
-Code:

label = back|track
root = current
read-write

Step 6:-Add
-The hda# should be whichever you installed Troppix to.
e.g. I screwed up and made "root=" the same hda# as BackTrack...It didn't work.
-Code:

# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /mnt/hda#/boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda#
label = Troppix
read-write
# Linux bootable partition config ends



Step 7:Save and exit

-Code:

lilo


-It should then say,

"Added Windows, Troppix, and back|track."

Step 8: unmount - reboot & pray
-As soon as you are in:
-Code:

passwd

-And choose a new root password.

For dual boot skip steps 3 and 6

Now you're on your own.;)

[atomicflounder]

Tried this, got up to step 4, installing BackTrack. I got the install done, setup another partition for it, formatted it Fat32. Told Backtrack to go onto that partition, now, when I go to boot the system hangs on:

Freeing unused kernel memory: 216k freed
Warning: unable to open an initial console.

been staring at it for awhile now, nothing happening. I am far from a linux guy, wanted to get this on my XP lappy for troubleshooting/testing stuff.

Any ideas???

[BlackNinja]

:eek:
If I understand correctly you moved your Backtrack install to the FAT32 partition, no? Any OS you install must stay in the original partition. I dont know if copying it back to the ext3 partition will work but give it a go and let us know.
If it doesn't:
-Format the FAT32 partition and reinstall Backtrack to the ext3 partition.
-Your WinXP install should be fine.
-Be sure you're following the directions in order:
1:Make all partitions. (NTFS for XP, ext3 for Linux, Swap for Linux, FAT32 if youve got extra space to play with.)
2:Install WinXP.
3:Install Backtrack(/Troppix if you need the atheros card inject/capsupport)
4:Install and configure Lilo.

-WinXP (NTFS) cannot access any Linux partitions for reading or writing. The partitions/drives put simply, dont show up.
-Linux (ext3) can access an NTFS partition for reading only. NTFS drives/partitions show up, and you can copy from them, but can't paste or create any new files to them.
-The Fat32 partition is optional. Nothing gets installed here. Both NTFS and ext3 can read and write freely to a FAT32 partition/drive. ;)

[atomicflounder]

ok, so how do I format the blank partition, totally unformatted, as an ext3 partition?

May seem like a stupid question, my apologies.

[BlackNinja]

I normally use Norton Partition Magic, because its quick and easy, but it has fudged me a few times. I wouldn't buy it again.
You should go this route instead, its free and better:
-Boot into Backtrack
-K (start) menu>Backtrack>Qtparted
-Maximize that little window. On the left theres a box that lists the HD's in your computer. Should be "/dev/hda" click that and on the right it will list all your partitions, (if any). Right clicking on the bar at the top gives you options to format, resize, move, or create different partitions.

[atomicflounder]

ok, I'll try that, do you really think that's what's wrong? Just a matter of getting the partitions right?

[BlackNinja]

Thats what I gather.
I'm not there so its hard to tell.
After you do it twice it'll be like riding a unicycle, you'll never forget but you'll still break stuff.
Take your time.
Dont smash stuff.

edit:Check your PM's

[linux_nub]

thx for the tutorial black ninja! i'll make sure to give it a try when i have some spare time... :cool:

[NoTeu]

Hey man!

I really wanna thank you for this! It's working perfect! i have 1)- Windows XP; 2)- Caixa Mágica (portuguese distro based on suse); 3)- Back|Track

Once more, thank you!

great job!


:D

[uhudla]

I first installed kubuntu

here my print output from

sudo fdisk /dev/hda

Gerät boot. Anfang Ende Blöcke Id System
/dev/hda1 1 486 3903763+ 83 Linux -> Backtrack Partition
/dev/hda2 487 3525 24410767+ 83 Linux -> Kubuntu Partition
/dev/hda3 3526 3648 987997+ 82 Linux Swap / Solaris --> Swap Space

I used the partition tool that comes with the kubuntu installer
All three Partitions on my 30GB hda are primary. 3GB for Backtrack, 26 GB for Kubuntu, Rest for SWap
No Bootflag set. No Entrypoint chosen for the Backtrackpartition.
All exept the Swap are ext3-filesystems.

After successfull installation of kubuntu i booted into backtrack.
Use the installer with the following config

source: /boot
install to: /mnt/hda1
MBR to: /dev/hda

After installed BAcktrack. Reboot Backtrack from hd.
Open a shell.
type
nano /etc/lilo.conf

Here is my lilo.conf

boot = /dev/hda
prompt
timeout = 30
bitmap=/boot/splash.bmp
change-rules
reset
vga = normal
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = current
label = BackTrack
read-write
image = /mnt/hda2/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386
initrd = /mnt/hda2/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
root = /dev/hda2
label = Kubuntu
read-write



You can use the symbolic links in the "/"-directory instead of accesing the vmlinuz and initrd image directly.

Then the Kubuntu Part of lilo.conf would look like

image = /mnt/hda2/vmlinuz
initrd = /mnt/hda2/initrd.img
root = /dev/hda2
label = Kubuntu
read-write

After saving the lilo.conf. type lilo. You should see BackTrack added and Kubuntu added

reboot and you should now be able choose the kernel you want to boot.
If the 3 Seconds are too short for you simply change the timeout in lilo.conf



greez uhudla

[BlackNinja]

This method should apply to all Debian based distros no? (curious)

[uhudla]

I am not sure but i think all the "normal" (not istalled live-CD)Distros use the img-initrd image. I tried without the initrd image and ran into kernelpanic when booting kubuntu, saying that my "root="-option is not correct.

But it is asy to verify if you boot with initrd. Just look in the /boot directory
and look for an initrd image, or look in lilo-/grub configuration files before installing backtrack.


anyway thx ninja for the howto.

[TAD 6.0]

My installed OSs are:
sda1 Primary WXP (NTFS)
sda5 Logical Kanotix (ReiserFS)
sda6 Logical Backtrack (Ext3)

I'm using GRUB as Bootmanager.

I had to ad the Backtrack part:

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5 ro ramdisk_size=100000 lang=de apm=power-off nomce vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd.img
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.14-kanotix-9
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-kanotix-9 root=/dev/sda5 ro ramdisk_size=100000 lang=de apm=power-off nomce vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.14-kanotix-9
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
title Windows 2K/XP/2003 (sda1)
chainloader (hd0,0)+1

title Backtrack Beta 3.0
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz rw root=/dev/sda6


Now everyting works fine.

[Freez]

Great thread, can anyone give me advice for this situation please, I want to make sure not to messing anything up here:

I currently have XP and Ubuntu as Hdd install, GRUB as bootmanager.

Later I probably will try to either add Backtrack as the third OS or I will try to replace Ubuntu with it.

Am I understanding right that Backtrack only works with Lilo and not with Grub? If so, how can I exchange the bootmanager?

Or, could I just start HD install from the Backtrack live-CD and select my current Ubuntu-partition (ext3)?

If I want to add another partition, is it possible or advisable to take a chunk out of hda1 (biggest partition, for Win XP) to create hda4 (hda2 is swap, hda3 Ubuntu)?

I currently have to enter the bootoption "acpi=off" to get Backtrack to run, were and when do I have to change the HD-install to reflect this?

Sorry these are probably very obvious and silly questions, but since Ubuntu was my first Linux install I am sort of spoiled because it all went automatically and like a charm... :o

[yeehawjared]

when i run the command liloconfig - nothing shows up... what's going on?

i did it from a terminal window and run command in the KDE start menu

[hupp3l]

Hey
Well I almost shat myself when I thought I got this to work. I got linux installed after my windows xp then I did the lilo cofig and everything looked fine.

The Problem
I can choose windows XP and it will start to load but then it says two things are missing xmnt2002 and autochk, it then reboots. I can boot into linux fine.

Solution
Needed to unhide the windows partition. I used UBCD to unhide it because i couldn't find an unhide option in lilo as in grub.

hupp3l

[uhudla]

when i run the command liloconfig - nothing shows up... what's going on?

i did it from a terminal window and run command in the KDE start menu


Use the editor instead it is better anyway.

just open a shell and type

nano /etc/lilo.conf

Edit the Lilo.conf with whatever you need. Save it and type

lilo

If everything is ok with the conf file
it should say that thisOS and thatOS were added

good luck

uhudla

[uhudla]

Great thread, can anyone give me advice for this situation please, I want to make sure not to messing anything up here:

I currently have XP and Ubuntu as Hdd install, GRUB as bootmanager.

Later I probably will try to either add Backtrack as the third OS or I will try to replace Ubuntu with it.

Am I understanding right that Backtrack only works with Lilo and not with Grub? If so, how can I exchange the bootmanager?

Or, could I just start HD install from the Backtrack live-CD and select my current Ubuntu-partition (ext3)?

If I want to add another partition, is it possible or advisable to take a chunk out of hda1 (biggest partition, for Win XP) to create hda4 (hda2 is swap, hda3 Ubuntu)?

I currently have to enter the bootoption "acpi=off" to get Backtrack to run, were and when do I have to change the HD-install to reflect this?

Sorry these are probably very obvious and silly questions, but since Ubuntu was my first Linux install I am sort of spoiled because it all went automatically and like a charm... :o
You can use Partition Magic to change the size and create a new Partition.
It is always a little risk todo that but i ve never had Problems with Partition Magic resizing or creating a new partition.
Like TAD6.0 described 5 Posts above, you can use GRUB as a bootloader.
It is exactly your setup 2 Linux and MSXP.

But i dont know how to tell the Backtrack-Installer not to overwrite the GRUB..?
Didnt try to leave the "installt MBR to"-Field empty.
After installation you just have to add Backtrack to your existing GRUB Configfile.
You can add the acpi=off bootoption in GRUB also.


grez uhudla

[Freez]

Thanks very much uhudla, sorry missed the GRUB post - I am not familiar with bootmanagers, but I think I will manage now...

[yeehawjared]

Use the editor instead it is better anyway.

just open a shell and type

nano /etc/lilo.conf

Edit the Lilo.conf with whatever you need. Save it and type

lilo

If everything is ok with the conf file
it should say that thisOS and thatOS were added

good luck

uhudla

I figured out what i was doing wrong.... I installed the "live CD version" to my hard drive - not the full uncompressed version. After I installed the full version the liloconfig command worked fine. I now have a successful XP/BT dual boot. thanks for the help

[lamer1]

As far as setups, i already had fedora and xp installed with grub as my boot loader, i made a new partition from free space with partition magic 8, loaded up the backtrack cd, mounted the partition, install it to the partiton, blah blah blah, got into lilo and used these setings ( note this is after lilo was configured using the lilo command)

# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Windows
table = /dev/hda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = current
label = backtrack
read-write
image = /mnt/hda2/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-1.1381_FC3 (replace this with your kernel, version and hd if you are going to use this)
initrd = /mnt/hda2/boot/initrd-2.6.12-1.1381_FC3.img
root = /dev/hda2
label = Fedora
read-write
# Linux bootable partition config ends

Works Fine, But im not sure whats gonna happen when i uninstall this backtrack, if its gonna try to run off lilo and error or go back to grub
Works good for now so im happy

[Twelve70]

:
-Be sure you're following the directions in order:
1:Make all partitions. (NTFS for XP, ext3 for Linux, Swap for Linux, FAT32 if youve got extra space to play with.)

I am thinking about installing BT to my laptops harddrive & have been reading thru all the posts since this will be my first time. I saw several posts in other forums that there is a general rule of RAM x 2 = SWAP size. Is this true? So having 1 gb of RAM my SWAP should be 2 gb? I saw a post of someone with a SWAP size of 10 gb ... typo?

Thanks for any help.


Twelve70

[enderst]

i quit using fat32 partitions to share files between the two oss years ago. you can read from ntfs partitions in linux and r/w to ext2 and read ext3 from windows using Explore2fs (http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm)

Freez:
you'll need to pass noacpi to grub instead of "acpi=off" as in lilo

[Twelve70]

Step 7:Save and exit

-Code:

lilo

Hey your instruction worked very well for me ... up to step 7. I couldn't get it to work until I used quotes. "lilo"

I am new to this & the search feature with the tutorals are helping me work thru learning.


Thanks

Twelve70

[BlackNinja]

i quit using fat32 partitions to share files between the two oss years ago. you can read from ntfs partitions in linux and r/w to ext2 and read ext3 from windows using Explore2fs (http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm)


*Shrugs*
I never bothered with it after reading the faq.
"Because of the bugs, write support has been permanently removed."

For R/W access from linux to windows you can pay $69.95 for this:
http://www.ntfs-linux.com/

[stranded]

Thanks works great! :D

Stranded

"Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and give up your monopoly on fisheries."-some guy


So Atheros chipset based cards are having mystery issues.
Thanks to 50F03 I found out Troppix 1.2 had a stable HD install.
Thanks to Katch and muts I learned all about Lilo and what happens if you botch it.

Hardware:
Dell Latitude D600 (ipw2100 disabled)
PM 1.3ghz
256 ram
20gig HD

For dual boot skip steps 3 and 6

Step 1: Get plenty of rest and then, partition your HD.
-I made one NTFS, two Linux ext3, one swap, and one FAT32 with the leftover space. A FAT32 partition is by no means necessary but both Linux and Windows can read as well as write to it. This comes in handy for Dictionaries, capture files, password dump files, documentation ect.

Step 2: Install Windows to your NTFS partition.
-If you cant do this without help, stop right now, AOL pwns you.

Step 3: Install Troppix to one of the ext3 partitions.
-Boot up the Troppix (1.2) livecd and use the HD installer in "start menu>system".
-Remember which hda it installs to. :rolleyes:
-On the first try I installed Troppix last with GRUB, it caused BackTrack to lockup instantly when attempting to boot. I didn't try to find out why.

Step 4: Install Back|Track.
-Boot up the livecd and use the HD install.
-Install it to the other hda. (Not the one with Troppix or strange things happen.)
-Reboot into Back|Track

Step 5: Installing Lilo (Thanks to Katch and muts.)
-Code:

liloconfig

-follow the GUI - choose simple, your resolution and install to mbr
Lilo will complain and fail but do not worry!
-Code:

nano /etc/lilo.conf

-Dont cheat and use the text editor or you'll never learn.

-Change
-Code:

label = back|track
root = current
read-write

Step 6:-Add
-The hda# should be whichever you installed Troppix to.
e.g. I screwed up and made "root=" the same hda# as BackTrack...It didn't work.
-Code:

# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /mnt/hda#/boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda#
label = Troppix
read-write
# Linux bootable partition config ends



Step 7:Save and exit

-Code:

lilo


-It should then say,

"Added Windows, Troppix, and back|track."

Step 8: unmount - reboot & pray
-As soon as you are in:
-Code:

passwd

-And choose a new root password.

For dual boot skip steps 3 and 6

Now you're on your own.;)

[locgat]

Hi, when i try to run liloconfig does not same that have anything, any window open, any action performed, and if i try to change the lilo.conf when type lilo say, Fatal: creat /boot/map~: Read-only file system

The primary partition hda1 with windows xp its ntfs system, this is the problem? Thank you.

P.D.
i have 3 partitions, hda1 ntfs with windows xp, hda2 fat32 with backtrack and another to linux swap
My lilo.conf

boot = /dev/hda
prompt
timeout=20
bitmap=/boot/splash.bmp
change-rules
reset
vga=normal
image=/mnt/hda/boot/vmlinuz (i tryed with /dev/hda2)
root=current
label=backtrack
read-write

other=/dev/hda1
label=windows
read-write

[Saimon]

You should be using a linux file table for the BT partittion ext2 or ext3, afterwards configuring lilo. It would be a excellent ideal to read this thread end to end as well as a few others on this topic. There is a wealth of infomation here in type.
:eek:

[locgat]

Ok, i put the backtrack in the ext 3 partition, i reboot, then the pc enter in backtrack directly, i type liloconfig and i config all normally, thank you!!!!

[suprahero]

hey i got the lilo.conf edited no problem but when i type lilo in shell i get this

Added BackTrack *
Fatal: Partition entry not found.

[capslock]

First of all, Hi Everybody!!
This is my problem:
I've installed WinXp and then BT. When booting livecd it boots ONLY if i type "linux acpi=off" at boot prompt.
After installin BT on hd, i can't boot the system because it needs acpi=off option.
How can i do to set acpi=off in order for the system to boot BT from hd?

[armedpilot]

You could press the tab key to get the boot prompt, on the splash screen, and type "linux acpi=off", or configure lilo to include it.

[pato28mty]

hi, i have install windows xp, suse10.

with win xp in /dev/hda1, and suse in /dev/hda2, swap in /dev/hda3,
i no have problem to boot with any OS, but when install BT in /dev/hda4, suse boot fails with this error could not load /lib/modules/2.6.15.6/modules.dep, and BT boot ok.

i reinstall or update suse on /dev/hda2, and now the problem is BT,
this is the message error:

VFS: Cannot open root device "304" or unknown-block(3,4)
please append a correct "root=" boot option
kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(3,4)

###############################
this is the suse fstab:

/dev/hda2 / ext2 acl,user,xattr 1 1
/dev/hda3 swap swap defaults
.
.
/dev/hda4 /mnt/hda4 auto noauto, user 0 0
#################################


#############################
this is the BT fstab:

/dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1 ntfs auto,users,suid, dev, exec 0 0
/dev/hda2 /mnt/hda2 ext2 auto,users,suid, dev, exec 0 0
/dev/hda3 swap swap swap swap 0 0
/dev/hda4 /mnt/hda4 ext2 auto,users,suid, dev, exec 0 0

#######################################

any suggestions

[forumware]

Hi,

I just bought a Toshiba Satellite u205. I am booting BT live cd and trying to use qtparted.

Whenever I try to resize the partition and save I get a popup box that just has an exclamation mark and no error. Anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.

On a side note: Qtparted show 1 120gb NTFS partition.

If i do fdisk /dev/sda1 I get a differt partition table. I think it shows the "recovery portion" of toshiba if I need to reinstall everything in XP. Could that be interfering with qtparted?

Any hits or solutions appreciated,

Thanks

Forumware

[mchollan]

Hey I just wanted to thank everyone who posted in here. All my questions were answered before I even had to post. Thanks a lot guys.

In case you were wondering or if anyone has questions, I installed backtrack to my hard drive, then configured lilo.conf to install the bootstrap to the first sector of my second partion so I can still use NTLRD to load all operating systems.

Thanks again guys