LOADLIN: LOADLIN is a bootloader and the safest way to boot Linux from your hard disk (why?), if you have a bootable DOS-partition besides Linux on your machine.

See also:

• Bootloader

LOADLIN does not need to be installed, it is usable as is. The kernel images can reside on any DOS accessable medium (even a network drive). Thus, LOADLIN an exellent tool if you need to boot Linux after a filesystem restore from backup medium -- you must run LILO after this, but you can't if you haven't booted into Linux yet.

Contents

Configuring a Device that Requires a Dos Program

If you have a hardware device (sound card, modem, whatever) that uses a dos program to configure it, loadlin is your friend. You can boot up in dos, run that program, then run loadlin to start Linux without rebooting.

From the BootPrompt-HOWTO:

A common example is `SoundBlaster Compatible' sound cards that require the DOS driver to set a few proprietary registers to put the card into a SB compatible mode. Booting DOS with the supplied driver, and then loading Linux from the DOS prompt with LOADLIN.EXE avoids the reset of the card that happens if one rebooted instead. Thus the card is left in a SB compatible mode and hence is useable under Linux.

Contributors

• JosephKmiec - 19 Jan 2002
• RandyKramer - 07 Mar 2003
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