Sometimes you could encounter problems with LILO, the Linux Loader.
Error messages for LILO are very cryptic, so in the following table you can find some explanations.
| 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.bwithout 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. |
| 0x00 | Error while installing LILO |
| 0x02 | troubles on hardware device |
| 0x04 | A mismatch on hard disk geometry |
| 0x07 | BIOS troubles |
| 0x0C | Errors on hardware device |
| 0x10 | CRC error, try to recompile LILO |
| 0x20 | Controller error |
| 0x40 | trouble on a hard disk track |
| 0x80 | Timeout. The hardware device is in failure. |
| 0xBB | BIOS error, Remove the COMPACT option. |