Making a Boot Floppy

MAKING a BOOT FLOPPY

If the GUI-tool for making a boot-floppy fails, there is a simple ( command line ) way to make one, the tools are a bit different depending on the distro you use:
( no need to wipe/format the floppy before you start, it will simply be overwritten anyway )

Mandrake: ( Pre kernel 2.6 ! . . . post kernel 2.6 see Boot/Rescue CD )

CODE

$ su
< password >
# uname -r

( will show you the kernel-version: probably 2.4.21-0.13mdk )

CODE

# mkbootdisk --device /dev/fd0 2.4.21-0.13mdk

And put in a floppy and press enter, That´s all !

RedHat:
The same as Mandrake ( only another kernel version ) but you have to add /sbin:

CODE

# /sbin/mkbootdisk --device /dev/fd0 <kernel version>

Slackware:

CODE

$ su
< password >
# makebootdisk

And a dialog will pop up and make the floppy.

VectorLinux:
Same as Slackware

Debian:
( Also Knoppix HD installed )

CODE

# mkboot -r dev/hda? <kernel-version>

( hda? Is the root partition, replace the ¨?¨ )

NOTE: Always test your boot-floppy after you made it

So, next time you feel like doing some serious work on your system, and things go wrong, you will have a good way to boot even if the MBR gets overwritten. Simply boot from the floppy and restore Lilo or Grub to the MBR:

CODE

$ su
< password >
# /sbin/lilo

CODE

# grub-install /dev/hda

Have fun tweaking your Linux box ! ( You can even do a re-install of windows without having to worry about the boot-loader )

Bruno

-- Sep 8 2003 ( Revised Dec 9 2005 ) --