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Disk error codes

 

If the BIOS signals an error when LILO is trying to load a boot image, the respective error code is displayed. The following BIOS error codes are known:

0x00
``Internal error''. This code is generated by the sector read routine of the LILO boot loader whenever an internal inconsistency is detected. This might be caused by corrupt files. Try re-building the map file.
0x01
``Illegal command''. This shouldn't happen, but if it does, it may indicate an attempt to access a disk which is not supported by the BIOS. See also ``Warning: BIOS drive 0x number may not be accessible'' in section 5.1.2.
0x02
``Address mark not found''. This usually indicates a media problem. Try again several times.
0x03
``Write-protected disk''. This shouldn't happen.
0x04
``Sector not found''. This typically indicates a geometry mismatch. If you're booting a raw-written disk image, verify whether it was created for disks with the same geometry as the one you're using. If you're booting from a SCSI disk or a large IDE disk, you should check, whether LILO has obtained correct geometry data from the kernel or whether the geometry definition corresponds to the real disk geometry. (See section 3.4.) Removing compact may help too. So may adding linear.
0x06
``Change line active''. This should be a transient error. Try booting a second time.
0x08
``DMA overrun''. This shouldn't happen. Try booting again.
0x09
``DMA attempt across 64k boundary''. This shouldn't happen. Try omitting the compact option and report this problem to the author.
0x0C
``Invalid media''. This shouldn't happen and might be caused by a media error. Try booting again.
0x10
``CRC error''. A media error has been detected. Try booting several times, running the map installer a second time (to put the map file at some other physical location or to write ``good data'' over the bad spot), mapping out the bad sectors/tracks and, if all else fails, replacing the media.
0x20
``Controller error''. This shouldn't happen.
0x40
``Seek failure''. This might be a media problem. Try booting again.
0x80
``Disk timeout''. The disk or the drive isn't ready. Either the media is bad or the disk isn't spinning. If you're booting from a floppy, you might not have closed the drive door. Otherwise, trying to boot again might help.

Generally, invalid geometry and attempts to use more than two disks without a very modern BIOS may yield misleading error codes. Please check carefully if /sbin/lilo doesn't emit any warnings. Then try using the linear option (see section 3.2.2).



next up previous contents
Next: Other problems Up: Troubleshooting Previous: LILO start message



Ross Biro
Sat May 20 13:51:22 PDT 1995