Next Previous Contents

3. How to install Smart Boot Manager 3.x?

3.1 The usage of installation program.

Now there is an installation program for Linux and DOS. The installation programs are placed in the installer/ dir. There is only one source file for DOS and Linux, and the usage is very similar:

The usage of installation program is:

   sbminst [-t us|zh] [-d drv] [-b backup_file] [-u backup_file]

   -t us, zh    select the theme to be used
                (us = english theme, zh = chinese theme),
                or the file name of user customized theme;
   -d drv       set the drive that you want to install Boot Manager;
                for Linux:
                   /dev/fd0 is the first floppy drive
                   /dev/hda is the first hard drive
                for DOS:
                   0   is the first floppy drive
                   128 is the first hard drive;
   -b backup_file backup data that will be over-written for
                  future uninstallation;
   -u backup_file uninstall Smart BootManager, should be used solely;

for example, use command 'sbminst -t zh -d /dev/hda -b sbm-bak.dat' under linux to install a Chinese version to the first hard disk and backup the original data to file sbm-bak.dat.

Use command 'sbminst -u sbm-bak.dat' to uninstall it.

3.2 Installation notes for specific OSes.

Notes for Linux

If you want to boot linux with Smart BootManager, you must install LILO into the Superblock of your linux partition, instead of into MBR!

Edit /etc/lilo.conf file, change the line that include "boot=/dev/hda" to "boot=/dev/hda?", /dev/hda? is the partition where your linux kernel placed. Then run /sbin/lilo.

Notes for Windows NT, Windows 2000, FreeBSD, OS/2 and Solaris

You should install these OSes into a primary partition of the first hard disk. Although the second (and later) hard disk and logical partitions may also be supported by SmartBtmgr (by using 'Swap drive ID' feature) I don't suggest doing so.

You should turn on the Auto Active flag of these partitions. If not, errors might occur while booting the OS.

If you installed these OSes into the second or later hard disk, you also should turn on the Swap drive ID flag (CTRL+X).

Notes for DOS, Windows 9X

You should install these OSes into a primary partition of the first hard disk. Although it is possible to install DOS and Windows 9X into a logical partition or the second (or later) hard disk, it is not recommended. See section Advanced usage for more information.


Next Previous Contents