7.2 LOADLIN

The other booting option that comes with Slackware Linux is LOADLIN. LOADLIN is a DOS executable that can be used to start Linux from a running DOS system. It requires the Linux kernel to be on the DOS partition so that LOADLIN can load it and properly boot the system.

During the installation process, LOADLIN will be copied to root's home directory as a .ZIP file. There is no automatic setup process for LOADLIN. You will need to copy the Linux kernel (typically /boot/vmlinuz) and the LOADLIN file from root's home directory to the DOS partition.

LOADLIN is useful if you would like to make a boot menu on your DOS partition. A menu could be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that would allow you to pick between Linux or DOS. A choice of Linux would run LOADLIN, thus booting your Slackware system. This AUTOEXEC.BAT file under Windows 95 will provide a sufficient boot menu:

   @ECHO OFF
   SET PROMPT=$P$G
   SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\
   CLS
   ECHO Please Select Your Operating System:
   ECHO.
   ECHO [1] Slackware Linux
   ECHO [2] Windows 95
   ECHO.
   CHOICE /C:12 "Selection? -> "
   IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO WIN
   IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO LINUX
   :WIN
   CLS
   ECHO Starting Windows 95...
   WIN
   GOTO END
   :LINUX
   ECHO Starting Slackware Linux...
   CD \LINUX
   LOADLIN C:\LINUX\VMLINUZ ROOT=<root partition device> RO
   GOTO END
   :END

You will want to specify your root partition as a Linux device name, like /dev/hda2 or something else. You can always use LOADLIN at the command line. You simply use it in the same manner as it is in the example above. The LOADLIN documentation comes with many examples on how to use it.