On 03/07/13 17:18, Doug Hardie wrote: > > On 7 March 2013, at 11:57, Kevin Oberman <rkober...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 11:10 AM, Doug Hardie <bc...@lafn.org> wrote: >> >> On 7 March 2013, at 06:42, Richard Kuhns <r...@wintek.com> wrote: >> >>> On 03/07/13 01:59, Doug Hardie wrote: >>>> I have a new Mac Mini and have encountered the same problem reported last >>>> year by Richard Kuhns. YongHyeon PYUN provided some patches to the kernel >>>> that resolved the problem. However, without an internet connection its a >>>> bit tricky to get them into the system. Here is the approach I believe >>>> will work, but wanted to check first before I really mess things up. >>>> >>>> 1. Downloaded from current today via svnweb.freebsd.org: >>>> sys/dev/bge/if_bgereg.h >>>> sys/dev/bge/if_bge.c >>>> sys/dev/mii/brgphy.c >>>> >>>> I believe the patches are incorporated in today's versions. The >>>> comments indicate such. Thus I don't need to apply the original supplied >>>> patch. >>>> >>>> 2. Put those on a flash drive. >>>> >>>> 3. Install 9.1 release from flash drive onto the Mini disk. Have to >>>> include the system source. >>>> >>>> 4. Copy the files from 1 above from flash over the files on the disk. >>>> >>>> 5. Rebuild the kernel and install it. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> -- Doug >>> >>> That's worked for me 3 times now. >> >> Thanks. Well, I got 9.1 Release installed, but it won't boot from the >> internal disk. It doesn't see the disk as bootable. I installed using the >> entire disk for FreeBSD. I used the i386 release. Perhaps I need to switch >> to the amd64 release? >> >> I would generally recommend using the amd64 release, but it may not get your >> system to boot. >> >> How is your disk partitioned? GPT? Some BIOSes are broken and assume that a >> GPT formatted disk is UEFI and will not recognize them if they lack the UEFI >> boot partition. UEFI boot is a current project that seems likely to reach >> head in the fairly near future, but it's not possible now. > > No idea what the default partitioning is for BSDInstall. However the Mini is > only EFI or UFEI with some fallbacks although the comments I find in the web > indicate that different models have different fallbacks. > > One comment indicates that an older unit will boot if its MBR partitioning. > I don't know if the new installer supports that or not. > >> >> You may be able to tweak your BIOS to get it to work or you may have to >> install using the traditional partitioning system. The installer defaults to >> GPT, but can create either. >> >> I have such a system (ThinkPad T520) and I have two disks... one that came >> with the system and containing Windows, and my GPT formatted FreeBSD disk. I >> wrote a FreeBSD BootEasy boot into the MBR of the Windows disk and it CAN >> boot the GPT disk just fine. Not ideal for most, but it works well for me > > Based on a comment I say, waiting till the empty folder icon appears and then > plugging in the install memstick causes the mini to boot from disk. That > just downright weird, but it works. I could live with that, but this is an > unattended server and would experience some down time if I am not there when > there is a power failure. > > I just found some "instructions" for using MBR with bsdinstall, but given > there is an effort to create a UEFI boot which I suspect would expect to find > the GPT boot partition, perhaps I should just go with the memstick approach? > > -- Doug >
FWIW, here are the brief notes I made for what has been working for me for the last year or so; most recently with a new Mini purchased about 2 weeks ago. I'm using the entire drive for FreeBSD. Hit Option key while booting, then select 'Windows' USB image. Now trying GPT; looks fine, but will only boot with USB stick in place. If it's not there, just get a folder with a '?' when starting up. Using MBR; boots ok without USB stick. It just takes about 30 seconds before it actually boots. Select YES when asked about GMT. -- Richard Kuhns <r...@wintek.com> My Desk: 765-269-8541 Wintek Corporation Internet Support: 765-269-8503 427 N 6th Street Consulting: 765-269-8504 Lafayette, IN 47901-2211 Accounting: 765-269-8502 _______________________________________________ freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscr...@freebsd.org"