DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Making the default boot with LILO

8 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/making-the-default-boot-with-lilo.91971/

phreak0ut
phreak0ut Original post #1
Jul 2, 2008 at 5:36 PM
I've got LILO on Slackware dualbooting with XP, but I don't see an entry to make a specific OS the default boot in lilo.conf. Could someone guide me here please?
M
Jul 2, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Check this *www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-8.0-Manual/ref-guide/s1-grub-liloconf.html
phreak0ut
Jul 2, 2008 at 11:10 PM
@mehul- I've referred a guide like this on other sites, but like GRUB, this doesn't tell which to boot first. In GRUB, you've got numbers which is assigned to a particular entry to boot, but what about LILO??
MetalheadGautham
Jul 3, 2008 at 7:29 AM
LiLo stands for Linux Looser. Its soooo old. Use grub instead. Only oooold distros maintained by 65 year olds recommend it. :p
NucleusKore
Jul 3, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Alternatively you can try GAG bootloader. You will first have to install LILO to your root partition. Then install GAG through linux.
*gag.sourceforge.net/
Pat
Pat #6
Jul 3, 2008 at 12:24 PM
@mehul- I've referred a guide like this on other sites, but like GRUB, this doesn't tell which to boot first. In GRUB, you've got numbers which is assigned to a particular entry to boot, but what about LILO??

default = (label-name) in the boot configuration file lilo.conf!

For eg if you have this in your file:
image= blah blah
label= Ubuntu
initrd= blah blah
root= blah blah

image= blah blah
label= Arch
initrd= blah blah
root= blah blah

default=Ubuntu

will boot Ubuntu by default
M
Jul 3, 2008 at 4:06 PM
@mehul- I've referred a guide like this on other sites, but like GRUB, this doesn't tell which to boot first. In GRUB, you've got numbers which is assigned to a particular entry to boot, but what about LILO??

I can see
default=linux refers to the default operating system for LILO to boot from the options listed below this line. The name linux refers to the label line below in each of the boot options.
And it's taken from the same page - *www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-8.0-Manual/ref-guide/s1-grub-liloconf.html
phreak0ut
Jul 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
There was no 'default' entry in my lilo.conf. I've added that. Let's see what happens now **crosses fingers**

I tried, but no joy :( Here's my lilo.conf:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
lba32 # Allow booting past 1024th cylinder with a recent BIOS
boot = /dev/sda
default=Windows
#message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 400
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
Other = /dev/sda1
label = Windows
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/sda9
label = Slackware 12
read-only

# Linux bootable partition config ends