a strange error message

[abdul]

I just rebooted my computer today and it gave me a message saying
"LI"
and after that, it just hanged. I tried to backup my files but it had problem recognsing two hard drives at the same time. So, I tried to format and reinstall my os (windows 98 SE). I still got that strange error and it just hanged. I reinstalled my os about 3 or 4 times but still got no success.
Then I used to debug program to COMPLETELY erase all the partitions and reformat the hard drive...after that, it worked but I lost all my data including:

my two big C++ projects
3 movies
4 games



Has anybody else gotten this kind of strange message before?

[thinktank]

Do you have LINUX-LILO Installed ?

If so read this.

Boot loader messages
--------------------

The boot loader generates three types of messages: progress and error
messages while it is loading, messages indicating disk access errors, and
error messages in response to invalid command-line input. Since messages of
the latter type are usually self-explanatory, only the two other categories
are explained.


LILO start message
- - - - - - - - -

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. This
is described in more detail in the technical overview.

Note that some hex digits may be inserted after the first "L" if a
transient disk problem occurs. Unless LILO stops at that point, generating
an endless stream of error codes, such hex digits do not indicate a severe
problem.

()
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, see section "Disk geometry").

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.

[abdul]

No I understand

I did not have Linux installed at that time but here is what I did before:
I had Linux Mandrake and Windows 98 on two different partitions. I did not like linux so I deleted its partition and resized the partition to give all the space to windows. But it did not fully delete linux. It still gave me prompt of linux to select linux, windows, any other linux boot proccess. I was wondring why it did that but anyway..I just started windows everytime by selecting it from that linux prompt because Linux was all gone and I just had that prompt left.
Everything was working but tomorrow, I got that message and I am sure now that it was from Linux

Thanks a lot. Now I know what was rong

[thinktank]

Whenever you want to remove LILO, Boot up from a Dos startup floppy and run fdisk like this .

FDISK /MBR

Your Master Boot Record Will then have a dos boot loader.
(Make sure you have Linux Boot up floppy before this or else you can never boot up to Linux)

[abdul]

Thanks a lot for giving that info because I may install both os in future and this problem may occur again

Why do I need the Linux boot floppy disk if I dont want to use it again like after or before doing fdisk ?

[filburt1]

I got the damned "LI" for Lilo before. Lilo sucks. Arg.

If you have Windows 2000, maybe the "Repair" setup option will have Windows dump its own boot menu in the MBR.

[abdul]

I am running windows 98 and I already solved it (formated my hard drive completely)
But just for future, I want to make sure that I know what error I am getting and why

[filburt1]

Don't use Lilo next time . Mandrake 7.2 and later (and Mandrake basically is RedHat) uses Grub for a boot manager; use that next time. It is a menu, like Windows 2000's boot menu.

[scoutt]

LILO rules !!!!! rock on

[Wynd]

What's so bad about lilo? I didn't have any problems with it.

[scoutt]

Originally posted by filburt1
Don't use Lilo next time . Mandrake 7.2 and later (and Mandrake basically is RedHat) uses Grub for a boot manager; use that next time. It is a menu, like Windows 2000's boot menu.

uhhh and by the way Mandrake8.0 uses LILO

[filburt1]

But during setup is there an option to use Grub instead?

[scoutt]

not that I seen