How to Reinstall LILO

If you install a Windows operating system after already having Linux, you are faced with a problem; your old boot loader isn't being used anymore, and its replacement doesn't show your Linux installation. You're effectively unable to boot into anything but Windows. You need to reinstall your boot loader to be able to boot into Linux again. LILO (Linux Loader) is one such boot loader used by some Linux operating systems. You'll need a bootable Linux disk (any version should work) to access your Linux installation.

• 1

  Insert your Linux boot disk and restart your computer. Many systems will automatically load from an inserted CD or DVD, so you should see a splash screen appear with a number of options. These vary depending on the Linux boot disk you have. If your system isn't booting from the disk, press the "F12" key once you see text on the screen after restarting. Select your boot device from the list (using the arrow keys) and press "Enter."

• 2

  Select "Boot Options" (or something similarly named) to be able to alter the parameters with which the disk loads the operating system.

• 3

  Type "linux root=/dev/hda1" and press "Enter" to boot your system with the additional command. If "Enter" is not used to boot the system, the necessary key is listed on the screen. Be sure to replace "hda1" with the partition Linux is normally mounted on. You want the boot disk to make your Linux install accessible.

• 4

  Log in to your Linux system when prompted, type "lilo" in the console, and press "Enter." LILO should reinstall itself using your previous settings.

• 5

  Remove the boot disk and restart your system.