Beowulf
2006-08-02 16:40:04 UTC
(Mandriva Linux 2006 32bit smp kernel on an x86 PC.) Ok I have the
dreaded error trying to boot LILO where the BIOS boots then as lilo
attempts to start up I see on my screen "L 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99
...". I can not see the LILO boot menu, no linux, no WinXP, nothing. I
RTFM and tried some rescue methods but to no avail: (1)Booted the
Mandriva 2006 DVD and went into rescue mode, mounted partitions, tried
the reinstall LILO option but got errors; also went to root prompt and
did "chroot /mnt" then "/sbin/lilo" but on reboot still get the "L 99
99 99...". (2)Tried booting the Mandriva install DVD and doing an
Update install, rebooted, still the L 99 99 99 99 99 99 etc...
(3)Having googled and determined I have a corrupt MBR as the likely
culprit (mbr is on hda where WinXP resides, linux is on hdb), I boot
the WinXP CD and go into its repair mode and use the repair mode
command "fixmbr" several times in hopes of wiping out and resetting any
corrupt mbr on hda, then I go back and try to reinstall LILO using the
Mandriva install DVD using method already discussed; reboot, still the
dreaded "L 99 99 99 99 99".
Ideas? Ok I googled and someone said they had luck installing GRUB when
this happened (possibly just a coincidence, I do not know if this is
the solution)-but I have never used GRUB, and I certainly do not know
how to get a GRUB bootloader going at this stage since the Mandrica DVD
rescue mode only does LILO to my knowledge.
I am open to suggestions. I guess I could try a full reinstall of
Mandriva, but what good would that do if the hda mbr is corrupt? BTW I
do not have a floppy on this system, though I could add one it-- I say
that because I am wondering if booting a DOS rescue floppy and using
"fdisk /mbr" might have any advantage over the WindowsXP CD rescue mode
"fixmbr".
dreaded error trying to boot LILO where the BIOS boots then as lilo
attempts to start up I see on my screen "L 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99
...". I can not see the LILO boot menu, no linux, no WinXP, nothing. I
RTFM and tried some rescue methods but to no avail: (1)Booted the
Mandriva 2006 DVD and went into rescue mode, mounted partitions, tried
the reinstall LILO option but got errors; also went to root prompt and
did "chroot /mnt" then "/sbin/lilo" but on reboot still get the "L 99
99 99...". (2)Tried booting the Mandriva install DVD and doing an
Update install, rebooted, still the L 99 99 99 99 99 99 etc...
(3)Having googled and determined I have a corrupt MBR as the likely
culprit (mbr is on hda where WinXP resides, linux is on hdb), I boot
the WinXP CD and go into its repair mode and use the repair mode
command "fixmbr" several times in hopes of wiping out and resetting any
corrupt mbr on hda, then I go back and try to reinstall LILO using the
Mandriva install DVD using method already discussed; reboot, still the
dreaded "L 99 99 99 99 99".
Ideas? Ok I googled and someone said they had luck installing GRUB when
this happened (possibly just a coincidence, I do not know if this is
the solution)-but I have never used GRUB, and I certainly do not know
how to get a GRUB bootloader going at this stage since the Mandrica DVD
rescue mode only does LILO to my knowledge.
I am open to suggestions. I guess I could try a full reinstall of
Mandriva, but what good would that do if the hda mbr is corrupt? BTW I
do not have a floppy on this system, though I could add one it-- I say
that because I am wondering if booting a DOS rescue floppy and using
"fdisk /mbr" might have any advantage over the WindowsXP CD rescue mode
"fixmbr".