Weird boot failure

Newbie!!! I have done a hard drive install 4 times on the same hdd
with the same results. Installation the last two times was smooth.
As knoppix is the only thing on this computer I elected all four times not to install LILO in the mbr.
At reboot to the hard drive after checking the DMI it starts into knoppix,
prints large capitol letters with a cursor as so, "LI_ ", then quits.
Looking at the hdd using CD knoppix and cfdisk, it is all there.
This hdd prior to his had Mandrake 8.0 on it.
Any help appreciated.

Re-installed choosing the lilo option this time and all is well. Sound
doesn't work now-- it did with the CD. Thanks, Vic