How to boot Linux from MS-DOS with Loadlin:

If we dual boot Linux and Windows 3.x, 95, 98 or MS-DOS, sometimes it will be useful to boot from Windows 
or MS-DOS straight into Linux from MS-DOS without having to reboot, change BIOS settings, LILO or another 
third-party boot manager. You can get this with a small utility called loadlin.exe that normally ships with all 
Linux distributions. If you haven't got it, you will find it on any FTP that has Linux distributions. This way of 
booting isn't in contradiction with LILO, you can use both without any problem. I am not an expert in Linux, 
but I am using it with success, and I gain a lot of time with my changes between Windows 98 and RedHat 
6.2. So I will tell you how I do it :

1. First of all we must create a folder to keep the kernel's image, for example, C:\Linux

2. Now we must copy loadlin.exe somewhere it is accessible to a BAT file, or just copy it to C:\

3. Create a BAT file to boot Linux, it will look more or less as the following lines :


smartdrv /c
loadlin c:\linux\vmlinuz root=/dev/hda3 ro

You only have to change the partition where you have Linux installed. I have it on /dev/hda3, in your case it 
can be hda1, hda5, hc1, etc.. If you are not going to save the kernel in C:\linux you will also have to change 
that name.

Save the file as "linux.bat" or whatever name you like. As I used to have several distributions installed before, 
I used to name the BAT file with the name of the distribution, Redhat.bat, Mandrake.bat, etc.

4. Now we have to copy Linux's kernel into the folder. To do so, we have to boot into Linux and copy it to 
C:\linux or whatever you called the folder, I assume that you know how to see DOS partitions from Linux, 
using mount, and you know how to recognize the kernel file, it is normally /boot/vmlinuz, but sometimes it's 
called vmlinuz-2.0.34-0.6, or something like that, be sure to copy it to the right folder as it's named in the 
BAT file, and you can change the kernel's name once it is in Windows, but please don't rename it in the /boot 
folder. If you are not sure about all this, have a look at the HOWTO's.

5. Now everything is in its place, the folder with the kernel, loadlin.exe and linux.bat, it's time to try it out : 
you have to do it from DOS mode (restart in MS-DOS mode or boot into Windows's menu pressing <F8> in 
Windows 95 or 98 or pressing the <Ctrl> key in Windows 98). Run the BAT file, for example :

C:\>linux

(or whatever name you gave it)

If everything runs fine, you will see the typical Linux boot screen and you will soon be in Linux. If this doesn't 
happen and you get an error message, just check you copied the right file in the right place and the BAT file 
is addressing it. If your MS-DOS partition is in FAT32 make sure you have the last version of Loadlin.exe, as 
earlier ones couldn't read FAT32.

Good luck and enjoy it!

Sve & Julian 2001

GoToMyPC - Access Your PC from Anywhere - Free Trial!
GoToMyPC Introducing a new technology for PC users that PC Magazine calls "revolutionary" and The New York Times calls "ingenious."

GoToMyPC allows you to securely access and use your computer from any Web browser anytime, anywhere. Free Trial.
Download Now - Setup takes only 2 minutes.

Or skip the free trial and buy GoToMyPC today!

Interested in pursuing a high-tech career? Get FREE Information from ITT Tech!
Thinking about a career in technology? You can with an education from ITT Tech! With over 70 ITT Technical Institutes located nationwide in over 27 states, ITT Techs are one of today's leading providers of technology education.
The ITT Technical Institutes offer associate and bachelor degree programs in some of today's hottest technical areas. By getting an education from an ITT Tech, you can take advantage of many benefits including:

· Curriculum designed with employers in mind

· Convenient class schedules

· Financial aid to those who qualify

· Career Services to help you look for a job

Want to study online? The ITT Technical Institute in Indianapolis, IN offers two bachelor degree programs online. With ITT Tech's online education, a quality technical education is now available when and where it is convenient for the student.


An online education offers students the opportunity to pursue their educational objectives when attending school in a traditional classroom is just not practical.

Find out more today! Click here.

*Bachelor degree programs of study are not offered at every ITT Technical Institute and the programs of study offered vary among the ITT Technical Institute campuses.