Re: sometimes the lilo boot menu does not show up unless one hits shift or something

[Levi Waldron <levi.waldron@utoronto.ca>]

In lilo.conf, use the `prompt' option to force a boot prompt (without
you having to press tab or shift or whatever first).  If you want to,
specify a message file with the `message' option.  This file can
contain a "menu" detailing which choices are available.  It will have
to reside on the low-cylinder boot partition if you have one.

1) add a line that just says "prompt" to /etc/lilo.conf
2) type lilo

If you want, you can also specify a message file with the `message' option.  
This file can contain a "menu" detailing which choices are available.  It 
will have to reside on the low-cylinder boot partition if you have one.

For more info, man lilo.conf