Ask Klaus!
Ask Klaus!
No DVD Boot Regarding the “No DVD Boot” problem in Linux Magazine, issue #64 / March 2006, p50, where the BIOS would boot from CD but not DVD, you might find a simple answer is to make the DVD player the master and the CD the slave on the relevant controller. I had the same problem. I could boot from CD but not DVD until I switched controller connectors, and now I can boot from DVD (but not the CD). Thanks for your input! You're right; some boards need a bootable IDE/ ATA-device as the master; otherwise, they just ignore the device until the operating system loads a driver for it. I have something to add, too, from a recent case where Knoppix (and other Live CDs) would show the bootscreen, but as soon as the kernel and ramdisk were loaded, the DVD drive magically disappeared, causing an error message that the file system could not be found – on the same device where the kernel and initrd were previously loaded without problems. The reason was a missing master drive on that IDE port, and the DVD drive was a sentinel slave. Rejumpering the drive to be the master at this port fixed the problem. What amazes me most in the case of a wrongly jumpered DVD drive is the fact that when no driver is loaded (i.e., when the BIOS is used to transfer data from the drive), everything worked, until the system switched to protected mode and the correct driver for the controller was loaded, and then the drive disappeared. Makes you wonder about hardware and BIOS design.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.