Installing Multiboot Distros with Slackware

Question

Dear all,
I’m trying to install a multiboot with multi distros, in this case Slackware and Linux Oracle. I have Slackware running for a while now and try to install it in other partition. Suppose I have Slackware in /dev/hdb and planning to install Oracle Linux in /dev/sda. My plan is:
1.     Format /dev/sda
2.     Install Oracle Linux in /dev/sda using boot disk
3.     Modify lilo.conf
4.     Run dual boot
But the problem is during the Oracle Linux boot installation:
1.     It doesn’t recognize the partition and file format that Slackware did in /dev/sda
2.     The installation disk then force me to create another partition for memory swap and root directory
3.     At first attempt I created a partition in /dev/sda with RAID format which didn’t get recognized by Slackware so that I had it wiped out at the next attempt of installation.
4.     Just before the process of partitioning /dev/sda, Oracle Linux installer from the boot disk cannot detect my dvd drive although the PC was booted from its very drive (Why?) so It was asking me if I need to point out the location of another copy of the image file, which is located in /dev/sda1. The installer read it from /dev/sda1, I think not from DVD drive. This always happens in all attempts.
5.     At the end, it cannot finish the process of the installation and I have to abort it, without knowing the reason for it. This happens in all attempts also.
Now I have the problem with slackware:
1.     The tty is messed up that makes me unable to login to KDE, it freezes whenever I try to login.
2.     The KDE configuration has changed for some reason.
My question is:
I need a strategy to fix my damage and install the multi boot and at this point I really need some input from outside.
Please help,
Val

Answer 1

Valerie Debonair wrote:
I’m trying to install a multiboot with multi distros, in this case Slackware and Linux Oracle. That brings back some memories - my 1st time use of Linux was with Slackware on x386. The entire distro was on 2 stiffies. Slackware is of course called that ("+slack+") after the Church of the Sub-Genius slogans about pinks and slack.. {noformat} :-) {noformat}
1.     Format /dev/sda
2.     Install Oracle Linux in /dev/sda using boot disk
3.     Modify lilo.conf
4.     Run dual bootLilo is an old boot loader and not as good as Grub. Also, when installing Oracle Linux, it should install Grub by default (this will overwrite Lilo in the MBR) - and automatically update the grub.conf with additional boot options (one of which should enable you to boot Slackware).
But the problem is during the Oracle Linux boot installation:
1.     It doesn’t recognize the partition and file format that Slackware did in /dev/sdaWhat file system are you using for Slackware? And why /dev/sda? You've indicated that Slackware is in /dev/hda and that /dev/sda was formatted?
4.     Just before the process of partitioning /dev/sda, Oracle Linux installer from the boot disk cannot detect my dvd drive although the PC was booted from its very drive (Why?) so It was asking me if I need to point out the location of another copy of the image file, which is located in /dev/sda1. The installer read it from /dev/sda1, I think not from DVD drive. This always happens in all attempts.Will have to see the bootlog to diagnose this error.
Now I have the problem with slackware:
1.     The tty is messed up that makes me unable to login to KDE, it freezes whenever I try to login.
2.     The KDE configuration has changed for some reason.This will only have happened if you installed Oracle Linux into the same partition(s) that Slackware was on - as a separate install of Oracle Linux and dual booting Slackware and Oracle Linux will not cause tty and KDE problems.
My question is:
I need a strategy to fix my damage and install the multi boot and at this point I really need some input from outside.I would backup all that I need backed up. And do a format and clean install of Kubuntu 11.4 (which is the o/s Firefox is running in as I type this). In the old days it was fun to hack Linux, build your own kernels and so on. But I do not see the relevance of that today anymore for the majority of Linux users. Also, I do not see why one should use something like Oracle Linux (a server distro) for a desktop.. especially not as Ubunutu/Kubuntu is setting the standards for what a desktop distro should be.
I'm running Oracle XE on it too - so it is also capable of running server side software (within the constraints of a desktop h/w platform of course). And despite being an old Slackware user, I would not swap Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE) for any other distro (despite my personal preference for RedHat based distros and not Debian based ones).