The Linux Bootdisk HOWTO
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# B. LILO boot error codes

Questions about these codes are asked so often on Usenet that we include them here as a public service. This summary is excerpted from Werner Almsberger's LILO User Documentation.

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.

Output | Problem
--- | ---
(nothing) | No part of LILO has been loaded. LILO either isn't installed or the partition on which its boot sector is located isn't active.
L | The first stage boot loader has been loaded and started, but it can't load the second stage boot loader. The two-digit error codes indicate the type of problem. (See also section ``Disk error codes''.) This condition usually indicates a media failure or a geometry mismatch (e.g. bad disk parameters).
LI | The first stage boot loader was able to load the second stage boot loader, but has failed to execute it. This can either be caused by a geometry mismatch or by moving `/boot/boot.b` without running the map installer.
LIL | The second stage boot loader has been started, but it can't load the descriptor table from the map file. This is typically caused by a media failure or by a geometry mismatch.
LIL? | The second stage boot loader has been loaded at an incorrect address. This is typically caused by a subtle geometry mismatch or by moving `/boot/boot.b` without running the map installer.
LIL- | The descriptor table is corrupt. This can either be caused by a geometry mismatch or by moving /boot/map without running the map installer.
LILO | All parts of LILO have been successfully loaded.

If the BIOS signals an error when LILO is trying to load a boot image, the respective error code is displayed. These codes range from `0x00` through `0xbb`. See the LILO User Guide for an explanation of these.

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