On 10:35:43 Nov 01, Michael wrote: > I have been trying to install 4.4 on a previous 4.3 partition, but keep > getting this message after formatting and new installation: > installboot: broken MBR > And then when booting from the hd, all I get is: ERR M >
This means that installboot failed(I think). > I have tried a new installation 3 times and then tried "upgrading" after the > 3rd try, with same error. > > I use Air-Boot for boot manager and have used it for years. > Here is the openbsd and "a" partition within my 40 gig hd: > hd: 78125000 sectors > A6 starts 12546765 size 13350015 for 25896780 > "a" partition starts 12546765 and ends 13366080 > Is it beyond the addressable limit of your BIOS? I wonder. Is it set to LBA mode or linear mode? Just guessing. > Josh Grosse had me try the following commands: > Step 1) Boot 4.4 installation media, select the shell at the > Install/Upgrade/Shell prompt. > > Step 2) Mount your "a" partition as /mnt: > > # mount /dev/wd0a /mnt > > Step 3) Ensure the second stage boot loader is stored in /mnt/boot: > > # cp -p /usr/mdec/boot /mnt/boot > > Step 4) Rerun installboot, installing a new biosboot that points to /mnt/boot: > > # /usr/mdec/installboot -v /mnt/boot /usr/mdec/biosboot wd0 > I never give the full patch for the first stage bootloader. I usually give # cd /mnt # /usr/mdec/installboot -v boot /mnt/biosboot wd0 It should not be /usr/mdec/biosboot. Definitely not. If you mount your /dev/wd0a partition on /mnt, then the above command will work. Otherwise you have to choose the mount point of your root partition. Does installboot -v report any errors? If that goes thro' then I think you are mostly safe though I have never heard of Air-Boot boot manager ever. ;) > I got the same results (installboot: broken MBR and then ERR M when booting > openbsd). > I then thought that since 4.3 installed just fine why not try his command > with the 4.3 cd, so I did. > The commands worked perfectly and now I am able to boot into 4.4. > > Why would it work with the 4.3 cd and not 4.4 cd? It's the same partition > with new install. I dunno. My guess is as good as mine. I am sure Nick will reply to this but I will do my bit. ;) Can you reformat your disk and start from the beginning? And ensure that you install OpenBSD on the right cylinder boundaries? Are you very particular that you have to use a 'boot manager' and multiboot? I was thinking that multiboot was a big pain in the neck and only for those who have not yet decided which OS is best for their needs... Best of luck and I do hope you solve your problem soon. -Girish
