minimal linux system...only bootloader.

[nikhil]

Is there a way to configure just a bootloader, like grub and no other packages so that when the system comes up all we see is a "customized" grub page.
basically no packages should be installed, just grub and nothing else. Is there a way to do
this?

Thanks,
Nik

[Flatline]

You could look into wingrub:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/

[drakebasher]

You could look into wingrub:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/

"wingrub" sounds like it might need windows, or at least dos... If we want nothing but a bootloader (???) we don't need anything else. Wipe the disk and then, with a Grub boot floppy, Install Grub. And for the ""customized" grub page", we'll need a cool splashimage. Of course it wouldn't do anything except you could use it to make more Grub boot floppies, but ins't that what you asked for, nikhil?

edit:
You will need to create a filesystem for your Grub stage 1.5 and stage 2 files as well as your splashimage, but I think any of several filesystems will do.

[nikhil]

Hi,

yes that is something that i wanted..is there a step by step guide as to how to do it?
i hv been searchin the net since morning but could not find anything.

thanks a lot for your help
Nikhil

[drakebasher]

I came across this link as I was researching my prior response. Mostly, you need a boot floppy, and with that you can install Grub to any partition. That is, Grub stage 1 will be installed to the MBR unless you want to chainload Grub, in which case it wil be written to the first sector of another partition, and then some filesystem will hold the Grub stage 1.5 file, which if I recall correctly is specific to your selected filesystem, as well as the stage 2 file. If you have a Linux system available, enter at the command line 'grub info' (or is it 'info grub'?) for an extensive and informative user manual.