Installing YDL v4.0.1 on Mac G4 with other drives, partitions and OSes

[Frederick C.Lee]

Greetings:
	I'm into my nth install attempt via both manual and automatic.  The 
scenario:
1 External HD running Panther,
2 Internal HDs, one of which is partitioned into Jaguar/Linux (about 
1/4 size ratio).  The second HD is for data storage.

After a few attempts, I had settled on the automatic approach using 
ext3 file system.
I had disconnected the external and the second internal HD to avoid 
risk of damage during Linux Installation.

By this time I had memorized the cryptic id of the correct target 
partition to install YDL.

So all went well and I was able to boot via either partition via the 
ALT key at reboot.

The problem:

	When I reattached the external and 2nd internal drives and did a 
reboot, only the Mac OS Xes were available for booting via the ALT.  
The Linux was absent.
I've checked via the ExtFSManager System Pref. and can easily see the 
Linux sub-partitions there.

Question #1: Is there anyway to reset something to allow the Linux boot 
to be seen via ALT at startup, if necessary?
Question #2: Why did this occur?

So I had to re-install everything.  This time I purposely  left BOTH 
external HD and the 2nd HD in place so the LInux process can SEE these 
HDs if need to.   <-- all HDs plugged in.

After re-installing YDL and rebooting in Linux,  then Jaguar and 
Panther (external drive), I can still see ALL OS icons via ALT key at 
startup.

Hypothesis:  If I change the configuration (remove a HD), perhaps Linux 
may be lost; and/or re-attaching HD(s) and rebooting...perhaps then I 
would loose Linux.

So back to Question #2: does changing the HD/Peripheral attachments 
prior to startup, have any effect on the Linux boot partition being 
seen?

I'm trying to get a STABLE system going here, before I invest time and 
sweat into loading tons of software.

Regards,

Ric.
pseudo Linux-Psychologist Intern