Bug#270417: Re: Package: base-config (Installation does not work with boot loader NOT in MBR)

[<karsten@decotrain.de>]

Package: base-config

Hello,
 
i have a big problem installing Debian Sarge (offical snapshot vom
20.03.04)
on a PC with an
external Boot-Manager (Bootstar) and some different Windows-Versions on
the
Hard-Disk.
 
I want to install the Linux on Partition 10 (Partition 11 is Swap) on
the
PC.
There was a Mandrake-Distribution installed on the Partition before and
there was no problem
to boot it with the Bootstar-Bootmanager.
 
First i have installed Sarge on the Partition and i have choosen to
install
Grub and when it asks to install it
on the MBR i have choosen "No".
But Grub was installed on the MBR and has overwritten the Bootstar.
The Linux did boot with no problem but i could not boot any other
operating
system.
 
After i had reconstructed the Bootstar i installed Sarge again and tried
out
to take Lilo to install on /dev/hda1.
The Menu "crashes" with stripes on the screen.
Bootstar was not overwritten, but Linux boots with the graphical Lilo of
Mandrake and brakes on starting Cron!
 
I tried a 3rd Insallation with Lilo and it ends with overwriting the
Bootstar.
I have edited the lilo.conf to start lilo from /dev/hda1 and repairs the
Bootstar.
But it does not work. I can boot Windows but the "Mandrake-Lilo" starts
again.
 
=========================================================
So the bug is that the Install-Routine can't install the boot-loader on
a
Partition.
It only works with installing in the MBR.
=========================================================
 
Another problem is that i can't but from CD or Diskette.
When i enter boot: "linux root=/dev/hda1" it crashes with
 
VFS: Mounted root (ext2 filesystem)   -> I have installed ext3 ! (Is the
choice of ext 2 better ?)
Mounted devfs on /dev
VFS: Cannot open root device "hda1" or unknown-block(0,0)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
-> Bootstar is mapping the Partition tables
All Partitions before 10 seems to be not partitionized. Partition 10
will
be the first partition.
Kernel panic VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)
 
So what can i do ?
How can i install Lilo or Grub on /dev/hda1 ?
The other problem is that i can't boot Linux with CD or Diskette to edit
or
install.
 
Thank you for response.
 
Best regards
Karsten