LKBEN10998: Howto boot into single user mode using the lilo boot loader

Symptom

You need to repair your system and want to start into single user mode. You use lilo as boot loader.

Cause

none

Solution

The lilo boot loader has a command line. On the command line you can enter multiple options in the form:

<kernel or image name> <kernel command line options>

If you want to start in single user mode you just have to type in your boot target followed by S or single. In the following example we will use the boot target linux to boot into single user mode:

linux S

or

linux single

Please note that your boot target can be different. If you have a graphical splash screen you will also have to make shure you can enter something on the lilo prompt. There you might need to pres ESC (=escape key) or tpye Ctrl+X (Control key followed by typing X)

About the Author

Wim Peeters is electronics engineer with an additional master in IT and over 30 years of experience including time spent in support, development, consulting, training and database administration. Wim has worked with SQL Server since version 6.5. He has developed in C/C++, Java and C# on Windows and Linux in different European countries and different European languages. He writes knowledge base articles to solve IT problems and publishes them on the Lubby Knowledge Platform where he is one of the most important contributors and the main developer.

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