LILO fails: Error messages and their interpretation

Support knowledgebase (kgw_lilo_errmsg)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Symptom:

When booting with LILO, the machine hangs after displaying a part of the word LILO on the screen.

Interpretation

The LILO start-up code consists of two parts: The "first stage" in a boot sector and the "second stage" in /boot/boot.b. During the installation of LILO, a map file is created, usually /boot/map, where LILO finds the necessary pointers (sector addresses) to the operating systems (Linux kernel, etc.) that should be started.

(The following is taken from section 5.2.1 of the original LILO User's Guide by LILO author Werner Almesberger)

When LILO loads itself, it displays the word

LILO
Each letter is printed before or after performing some specific action. If LILO fails at some point, the letters printed so far can be used to identify the problem.

The most frequent causes for a geometry mismatch are not physical defects or invalid partition tables but errors during the installation of LILO. Often these are caused by ignoring the 1024 cylinder boundary (1024_Zylinder.html).

Solution:

In most cases, the solution is to apply one of the three procedures given below:

Data for support:

When you contact any kind of support about LILO, your chances for success will be significantly better if you include the following in your request:

  1. /etc/lilo.conf
  2. output of the command fdisk -l (partition layout)
  3. the LILO logs referred to above
  4. BIOS and SCSI BIOS settings concerning your hard disks


See also:
o Linux on 1024 cylinder
o Boot: (E)IDE and SCSI

Keywords: BOOT, BOOT PROBLEMS, LILO, BOOTING

Categories: LILO

SDB-kgw_lilo_errmsg, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 02. Mar 1998
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 11. Oct 2002 by sdb (sdb_gen 1.40.0)