Case of the bizarre bootstrap...

[James Green <linux cyberstorm demon co uk>]

I have mentioned in a previous post what I believe to be a serious
problem. I have now identified it further in the hope that a solution
can be found:

I have two Hard Disks. A 6.4Gb Fujitsu and a 3.2Gb Seagate (Master,
Slave). Both EIDE.

I have DOS 6.22 and NT4. I am getting RH5.1. I want DOS/NT/Linux options
at bootup, with Linux being default.

Problem: my BIOS won't recognise the master disk because it's too old to
see bigger that 400+megs of it. Tech support solution: Get Fujitsu's
ONTRACK software.

ONTRACK is a DOS program that sees all hard disks under CHS mode (which
is what the master HD has to be under for it to be seen at all) and LBA
mode (my Slave).

It allows me to configure my hard disk(s) by partitioning them in small-
enough checks for my BIOS to see them, and then installs itself in the
bootstrap to load special driover to allow whatever OSes I choose to see
the HD(s) properly.

The upshot of this of course is that whenever software asks you to boot
with the installation disk, you can't. To get the Hard disks under DOS,
you need to hit spacebar when the ONTRACK software has booted and
prompts if a disk is to be booted from, hit that key now.

Of course, LILO will want to install itself onto the bootstrap,
rendering ONTRACK obliterated and my Master disk invisible with
horrifying repercussions. All AFAIK of course.

So then, good people, how do get around that one then hey? (Other than
using a floppy-boot.)

-- 
James Green