Ubuntu installation problems - boot loader

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This is my first time attempting to install any Linux distro, so any help would be very much appreciated :)

When trying to install a boot loader to the MRB as part of the Ubuntu 6.06 installation, I get he following errors, for GRUB and LILO respectively:

LILO installation error
Running "sbin/lilo" failed with error code "1".
Click to expand...
Unable to install GRUB in (hd0)
Executing 'grub-install (hd0)' failed.

This is a fatal error.
Click to expand...

I've tried them several times, but get the same message every time.

Would it be possible to skip installing a boot loader altogether, considering Windows is installed on one disc (a RAID array to be precise), with Ubuntu being installed on a separate disc (IDE)?

Thanks.
 
Thanks for the replies.

If it's of any use to know, I followed Mpemba Effect's guide (here ) in setting up the partitions for linux, only it was on a separate disc that I use for storage. Since Windows and Ubuntu have been installed to separate discs, would it not be possible to change the OS that loads on boot simply by changing the disc boot order in the BIOS?

Installing it to a floppy would be a bit inconvenient to me as there's no space left in my computer for a floppy drive :p

How would I install a 3rd party boot loader, wouldn't this require going back into Windows? My computer is still sitting on the Ubuntu installation menu at the moment, as I'm afraid that if I do anything wrong it'll roll over and die :o :p
 
Una said:
Yeah, thats the best idea really, so long as you install lilo/grub to the MBR of the correct disk. I thought that was the problem you were having though.

Remember to toggle the partician you want to boot as bootable in the partician step. I recomend letting the ubuntu installer partician the disk automatically (just make sure you select the correct disk! :)), as it makes good use of the space you have available and sets up the correct flags.
Click to expand...
I chose to edit the partition table manually as there is already an NTFS partition on the IDE disc full of things that I really don't want to lose, and I wasn't sure what the installer would do to this. Is it safe to let the installer set things up itself?

Una said:
Eek yeah, if you did that you would have to go back into windows :)

If you skip installing a boot loader at this time you should be able to boot it with the CD and mount your root partician. Then run lilo once you are booted inside your chosen enviroment. It will give you more flexibility (and complexity :)) than the ubuntu install will do.
Click to expand...
Ok, I'll probably try this. Do you know of any guides? As I've said this is my first attempt at using Linux, so I'm not that familiar with how it works :)
 
Bah, didn't work :( I'll just have to try booting from the CD.

I can't make a backup either, as I have a total of around 200GB on my discs, so I have nowhere else for it to go :(
 
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