LILO (LInux LOader) is the generic boot loader used for Linux systems. When LILO loads it prints a letter after a particular task is done, completing the word ‘LILO’. Thus, it gives you specific way to analyze and correct Linux boot problems if any error occurs while successfully starting the system. In few cases, you might need to reformat or repartition the disk as the solution.
Thus you require a clean data backup to restore lost information later. Due to any cause, if you find no recovery is possible from backup as it is corrupt or absent, you should use Linux Recovery tools for complete recovery purpose.
When you start a Linux-based system, you might observe that LILO stops at ‘LI’, preventing the system to boot further. The system hangs after this event.
Cause
When LILO stops at ‘LI’, it indicates that the first stage of booting has been completed and loaded the second stage boot loader, without actually executing it. Possible reasons for this behavior to occur are:
• Hard disk is suffering from geometry mismatch
• /boot/boot.b file has been moved without running the map installer. This file is installed as the basic boot loader.
• System is trying to boot from a non-bootable disk and could not find the kernel
• Jumper settings issue
• /boot partition is not created below the 1023rd cylinder on hard drive
Solution
To fix these problems, you should refer to these solutions:
• Reformat the hard disk in case of geometry mismatch issues. Restore lost data using backup
• Run map installer to place the moved /boot/boot.b file at correct location. This program resides at /sbin/lilo
• Make sure that no external media is present in system while you are attempting to boot the system
• Ensure that all jumper settings are appropriate
• Reparation and reinstall Linux to create boot partition below 1023rd cylinder. Use you recent data backup to restore lost data
In any case backup fails to restore because of corruption or other concerns, use Linux Recovery applications, which are powerful application designed to recover lost data. Such Linux Recovery tools perform thorough scan to efficiently recover all the data.
Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery is a well-built tool to locate and recover lost data using powerful scanning technology. It is a read-only tool that supports safe Linux Data Recovery for Ext2, Ext3 and ReiserFS file systems. It supports almost all of the Linux distributions.
