Everytime I try to install lilo to MBR I get cannot install, lilo was not installed.
When I do lilo I get part_nowrite:read:: is a directory.
I have seached on LQ and google with not much info on this message.
Can I uninstall lilo using one of the switches and then reinstall?
In either case I cannot install to MBR (like it did before) so how does it get installed?

I had another HD on the same cable, removed HD, Plugged in first connector into this drive, reran liloconfig, did lilo and all is better now.
Dont know what the other drive had to do with it, maybe some kind of scsi thing or this drive needed to be on the first connector on the cable?

99 means: invalid second stage index sector (LILO)

run lilo in verbose mode:
# lilo -v5

and copy all the messages to lq forum. it will show you which disk is making problems. maybe an external one?

check "man lilo".

uninstalling lilo: # lilo -u
install lilo: # lilo

to see more detailed (error) messages from lilo, use "-v5" when running lilo, i.e.:
# lilo -v5

M.

MS--

did you install the kernel-ide package or use a different kernel from the slackware CD. If you use a different kernel (IE you didn't hit cancel/skip) during the lilo configuration when it asks you to choose a kernel, then lilo won't install right.

Don't ask me why, because I'm really new to linux, but I monkied around and if you instead install the default kernel and choose (skip or use/default when it asks you to install a kernel) then it will install the A-package kernel and the lilo setup during the install program will work to the MBR. I'm sure there's a way using the advanced configuration to make it install properly...but again...I don't know how to do that.

If you want one of those custom kernels I think you're going to have to figure out how to properly set up lilo.conf to make sure the /boot/vmlinuz is the right kernel and the /root is correct, and you've got the right System.map installed.

But like I said, if you're just starting out, use that default kernel in the A-package and don't install another one off the cd/floppy/whatever. Then do the lilo install to the MBR and it'll work.

After that you can compile your very own kernel anyway.