RE: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-27 Thread Ted Mittelstaedt


> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Wojciech Puchar
> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 12:15 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Chris Whitehouse
> Subject: Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master
> ... [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> 
> >
> > In any case, I suppose the OP could just use a floppy
> > boot disk, like slackware's:
> > 
> http://slackware.mirrors.easynews.com/linux/slackware/slackware/is
> olinux/sbootmgr/
> > http://tinyurl.com/2evgaa
> > Which should bypass any (most) moronic bioses.
> >
> any. i use bootable CD for this. very easy to create, and you can fit 
> whole /boot easily.
> FreeBSD can use any IDE drive on any IDE controller,

This isn't true.  FreeBSD cannot use the CMD640 controller, as
that controller has a hardware bug that will corrupt the filesystem.
Unfortunately that controller was popular on Pentium 75/90/100 
motherboards.  The old wd disk driver contained a workaround for
this bug but the workaround was never carried forward into the
ata driver.

Ted
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-27 Thread Wojciech Puchar


In any case, I suppose the OP could just use a floppy
boot disk, like slackware's:
http://slackware.mirrors.easynews.com/linux/slackware/slackware/isolinux/sbootmgr/
http://tinyurl.com/2evgaa
Which should bypass any (most) moronic bioses.

any. i use bootable CD for this. very easy to create, and you can fit 
whole /boot easily.
FreeBSD can use any IDE drive on any IDE controller, including 500GB drive 
on ISA 486, that's all just BIOS problems.

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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-26 Thread [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On 25/01/2008, Chris Whitehouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Nerius Landys wrote:
> >
> >
> > The earler comment about the disk being too big might be the issue.  Update
> > the motherboard's BIOS to the latest revision.  You may have to do some
> > digging to find this for an old motherboard.  Tell us if that helps.
> > ___
>
> Some motherboards had an upper limit on hard disk size which I think was
> 32gb. Some drives have a jumper to limit the apparent size to 32gb (if
> that was the size).
>
> Also I no longer have hardware to test this on but if it is a BIOS
> problem I believe if you could put the hard disk in a newer machine for
> the install it would then boot in the older machine as FreeBSD accesses
> the disk directly, not through the BIOS.

Anecdotally, I have an old hp e-server that will not see
IDE drives larger than something like 8G.  I let the bios
autodetect to the wrong value, and it booted just fine and
once FreBSD was running the whole 20G drive was
perfectly visible and functional.

In any case, I suppose the OP could just use a floppy
boot disk, like slackware's:
http://slackware.mirrors.easynews.com/linux/slackware/slackware/isolinux/sbootmgr/
http://tinyurl.com/2evgaa
Which should bypass any (most) moronic bioses.

-- 
--
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RE: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ...[Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-26 Thread Ted Mittelstaedt


> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Nerius Landys
> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:04 PM
> To: Chris Whitehouse
> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
> Subject: Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master
> ...[Press F4 to skip]
>
>
> > Some motherboards had an upper limit on hard disk size which I think was
> > 32gb. Some drives have a jumper to limit the apparent size to 32gb (if
> > that was the size).
> >
> > Also I no longer have hardware to test this on but if it is a BIOS
> > problem I believe if you could put the hard disk in a newer machine for
> > the install it would then boot in the older machine as FreeBSD accesses
> > the disk directly, not through the BIOS.
> >
> > When he puts that big hard drive back in the old computer, he
> still won't
> be able to boot because to boot the BIOS reads the MBR on the
> hard disk and
> passes control to that program.

All BIOS code is written to check for firmware at locations
c000: through c789: during bootup - this is where add-in
cards like the Promise card that I indicated he should use, have
their firmware. When the CPU transfers control to that firmware,
it can overwrite BIOS parameters to allow booting to occur off the
hard disk on the add-in card.

Ted

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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-26 Thread Nerius Landys
> Some motherboards had an upper limit on hard disk size which I think was
> 32gb. Some drives have a jumper to limit the apparent size to 32gb (if
> that was the size).
>
> Also I no longer have hardware to test this on but if it is a BIOS
> problem I believe if you could put the hard disk in a newer machine for
> the install it would then boot in the older machine as FreeBSD accesses
> the disk directly, not through the BIOS.
>
> When he puts that big hard drive back in the old computer, he still won't
be able to boot because to boot the BIOS reads the MBR on the hard disk and
passes control to that program.  If BIOS can't recognize the disk, there is
no possibility of booting.  The initial stages of booting happen based on
data on the hard disk.  This is a chicken and egg problem.  It boils down to
the fact that BIOS needs to recognize the hard disk to be able to boot it.
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RE: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-26 Thread Ted Mittelstaedt


> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Chris
> Whitehouse
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 5:14 PM
> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
> Subject: Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master
> ... [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> 
> Nerius Landys wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > The earler comment about the disk being too big might be the 
> issue.  Update
> > the motherboard's BIOS to the latest revision.  You may have to do some
> > digging to find this for an old motherboard.  Tell us if that helps.
> > ___
> 
> Some motherboards had an upper limit on hard disk size which I think was
> 32gb. Some drives have a jumper to limit the apparent size to 32gb (if
> that was the size).
> 

There have been lots of different limits through the years.  The 32GB
limit was an Award bios thing.  You can read about them here:

http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/hard_drive_size_barriers.htm

What the original poster needs to do is go and buy a used Promise
or other UDMA controller card, insert the card in his PC, turn off the
disk controller in BIOS, and use his 80GB disk.

Ted
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-26 Thread Wayne Sierke
David,

On Sat, 2008-01-26 at 00:48 +, David Larkin wrote:
> It is a fairly old machine I  am trying to use.
> One that has been switched  off and  gathering dust for some time. 
> 
> ROM PCI/ISA BIOS  2A5LHL1A
> 
> Award Modular  BIOS v4.51PG, AnEnergy Star Ally
> Copyright(c)  1984-99  Award Software, Inc.

That bios description looks terribly familiar.

> I've never updated a BIOS before and it sounds a  bit scarey.

Well, the first step is to see if there's even one available. You might
well find the machine already has the latest available (manufacturer's)
bios.

> I guess I'll  just overwrite an old 10Gig disk with FreeBSD 4.3 on instead.
> 
> I don't really  need the extra space but thought it would be sensible to 
> install on a new disk.
> 
> Probably  stick the new disk on ebay  ;-)

Well, depends what you want to do with the machine. Chances are you'll
find that you're going to want that extra space soon enough. Plus
there's no telling how much life is left in that old 10 Gigger - not
that there's any guarantee your new one won't fail, either. Such is
life. Having two physical drives can be useful in a number of
circumstances, too.

I posted some years back about difficulties I was having getting a bios
to recognise a large hdd's geometry. Yes, here:

http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions/2003-April/002301.html

Note the part about setting the heads to 15 in the bios. That is,
disable the auto-detect-on-boot and set the geometry manually.

Good luck.


Wayne

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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Chris Whitehouse

Nerius Landys wrote:



The earler comment about the disk being too big might be the issue.  Update
the motherboard's BIOS to the latest revision.  You may have to do some
digging to find this for an old motherboard.  Tell us if that helps.
___


Some motherboards had an upper limit on hard disk size which I think was
32gb. Some drives have a jumper to limit the apparent size to 32gb (if
that was the size).

Also I no longer have hardware to test this on but if it is a BIOS
problem I believe if you could put the hard disk in a newer machine for
the install it would then boot in the older machine as FreeBSD accesses
the disk directly, not through the BIOS.

Chris



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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Jerry McAllister
On Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 12:48:26AM +, David Larkin wrote:

> It is a fairly old machine I  am trying to use.
> One that has been switched  off and  gathering dust for some time. 
> 
> ROM PCI/ISA BIOS  2A5LHL1A
> 
> Award Modular  BIOS v4.51PG, AnEnergy Star Ally
> Copyright(c)  1984-99  Award Software, Inc.
> 
> I've never updated a BIOS before and it sounds a  bit scarey.
> 
> I guess I'll  just overwrite an old 10Gig disk with FreeBSD 4.3 on instead.
> 
> I don't really  need the extra space but thought it would be sensible to 
> install on a new disk.
> 
> Probably  stick the new disk on ebay  ;-)

How about sticking the new disk in as a second drive to contain all
your data - maybe mounted as /home??   

jerry


> 
> > iH,
> >Sounds to me like the BIOS doesn't see the disk at all;
> > disk too big for bios?
> > I remember having to "boot" [manager] from an old HD with the actual OS on
> > a new big HD that the bios would not see/boot from.
> > formatting does not matter as bios does not see the disk anyways.
> > I'd look into a controller, or update firmware.
> > 
> > ]Peter[
> > 
> > > On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:48:07 +
> > > David Larkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Guys,
> > >>
> > >> I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.
> > >>
> > >> I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old
> > >>  one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
> > >>
> > >> I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
> > >>
> > >> There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.
> > >>
> > >> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
> > >>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> > >>
> > >> However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
> > >> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
> > >>
> > >> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP
> > >> installation all went to plan.
> > >>
> > >> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and
> > >> set root password.
> > >>
> > >> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
> > >>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> > >>
> > >> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
> > >>
> > >> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
> > >>
> > >> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
> > >>
> > >> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks
> > >
> > > Some further info ...
> > >
> > >>From sysinstall, I  did Configure  --> Fdisk
> > >
> > > It shows
> > >
> > > Disk name : ad0
> > > |Disk Geom:  9729 cyls/255  heads/63 sectors = 156296385 sectors(76316MB)
> > >
> > > Offset SizeEND   Name  Ptype  DescSubtype Flags
> > >  0 63  62- 12 unused   0
> > > 63 156296322   156296384 ad0s1 8 freebsd   165
> > > 156296385  5103156301487 - 12unused0
> > >
> > >
> > > hope this helps
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> ___
> > >> freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list
> > >> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
> > >> To unsubscribe, send any mail to
> > >> "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
> > > ___
> > > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list
> > > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
> > > To unsubscribe, send any mail to
> > > "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > ___
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Jerry McAllister
On Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 10:48:07PM +, David Larkin wrote:

> Hi Guys,
> 
> I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.
> 
> I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old  
> one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
> 
> I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
> 
> There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.
> 
> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
> 
> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP 
> installation all went to plan.
> 
> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and set 
> root password.
> 
> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
> 
> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?

I don't think that message comes from FreeBSD.
This sounds more like a BIOS issue than a disk "format" problem.
The only exception would be if no MBR was written, but then it
would give different messages - something about no OS or boot device.

Try going in to your BIOS and checking boot order and such.
You want it to be floppy first and then CD (if you had one) and
then the hard disk[s].

You could boot up and run the fixit floppy and just look at the
disk with fdisk.   Just do  'fdisk ad0'  and see if it gives
reasonable values for the drive and the slice you created for FreeBSD.
Make sure the slice is marked to be bootable.
Then look at that slice with bsdlabel   'bsdlabel ad0s1'   and
see if it sees partitions in that slice.   If so, the disk is
probably just fine.

If the BIOS is old, it might be something like the disk being
too big for it or having some thing about it the BIOS doesn't 
recognize.  In that case you need to upgrade the BIOS.

jerry


> 
> Thanks
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Nerius Landys
It is a fairly old machine I  am trying to use.
> One that has been switched  off and  gathering dust for some time.
>
> ROM PCI/ISA BIOS  2A5LHL1A
>
> Award Modular  BIOS v4.51PG, AnEnergy Star Ally
> Copyright(c)  1984-99  Award Software, Inc.
>
> I've never updated a BIOS before and it sounds a  bit scarey.
>
> I guess I'll  just overwrite an old 10Gig disk with FreeBSD 4.3 on
> instead.
>
> I don't really  need the extra space but thought it would be sensible to
> install on a new disk.
>
> Probably  stick the new disk on ebay  ;-)
>

Maybe this will offer encouragement.  I have an Abit BH6 motherboard; it was
made before 1999.  (IIRC the board had a similar "big disk" problem that was
fixed after a BIOS update.)  I updated the BIOS by going to Abit's
international website and following links for drivers/BIOS.  It's not that
tough once you find information and instructions.  You'll need a floppy and
maybe a Windows machine from which to make the floppy.
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread David Larkin
It is a fairly old machine I  am trying to use.
One that has been switched  off and  gathering dust for some time. 

ROM PCI/ISA BIOS  2A5LHL1A

Award Modular  BIOS v4.51PG, AnEnergy Star Ally
Copyright(c)  1984-99  Award Software, Inc.

I've never updated a BIOS before and it sounds a  bit scarey.

I guess I'll  just overwrite an old 10Gig disk with FreeBSD 4.3 on instead.

I don't really  need the extra space but thought it would be sensible to 
install on a new disk.

Probably  stick the new disk on ebay  ;-)

> iH,
>Sounds to me like the BIOS doesn't see the disk at all;
> disk too big for bios?
> I remember having to "boot" [manager] from an old HD with the actual OS on
> a new big HD that the bios would not see/boot from.
> formatting does not matter as bios does not see the disk anyways.
> I'd look into a controller, or update firmware.
> 
> ]Peter[
> 
> > On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:48:07 +
> > David Larkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Guys,
> >>
> >> I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.
> >>
> >> I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old
> >>  one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
> >>
> >> I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
> >>
> >> There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.
> >>
> >> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
> >>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> >>
> >> However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
> >> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
> >>
> >> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP
> >> installation all went to plan.
> >>
> >> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and
> >> set root password.
> >>
> >> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
> >>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> >>
> >> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
> >>
> >> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
> >>
> >> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
> >>
> >> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >
> > Some further info ...
> >
> >>From sysinstall, I  did Configure  --> Fdisk
> >
> > It shows
> >
> > Disk name : ad0
> > |Disk Geom:  9729 cyls/255  heads/63 sectors = 156296385 sectors(76316MB)
> >
> > Offset SizeEND   Name  Ptype  DescSubtype Flags
> >  0 63  62- 12 unused   0
> > 63 156296322   156296384 ad0s1 8 freebsd   165
> > 156296385  5103156301487 - 12unused0
> >
> >
> > hope this helps
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> ___
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> >> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
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> >
> 
> 
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Nerius Landys
>
> >  correct me if I'm wrong
> > someone.  It seems that the issue is a hardware issue.  For example, try
> a
> > different jumper configuration on the back of the physical hard drive.
> > Also, there are probably two places on the IDE cable where you can plug
> in
> > your hard drive.  Try plugging your hard drive to the very end IDE
> connector
> > (not the middle one) and try setting the hard drive jumper configuration
> to
> > "master".  This might help.  Just an idea.
>
> Thanks for the suggestions 
>
> The jumper leads are set to Mater with no slave
>
> I  have tried using the other IDE conector, but it makes no difference


The earler comment about the disk being too big might be the issue.  Update
the motherboard's BIOS to the latest revision.  You may have to do some
digging to find this for an old motherboard.  Tell us if that helps.
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread David Larkin
On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:37:07 -0800
"Nerius Landys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>  correct me if I'm wrong
> someone.  It seems that the issue is a hardware issue.  For example, try a
> different jumper configuration on the back of the physical hard drive.
> Also, there are probably two places on the IDE cable where you can plug in
> your hard drive.  Try plugging your hard drive to the very end IDE connector
> (not the middle one) and try setting the hard drive jumper configuration to
> "master".  This might help.  Just an idea.

Thanks for the suggestions 

The jumper leads are set to Mater with no slave

I  have tried using the other IDE conector, but it makes no difference 
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Peter
iH,
   Sounds to me like the BIOS doesn't see the disk at all;
disk too big for bios?
I remember having to "boot" [manager] from an old HD with the actual OS on
a new big HD that the bios would not see/boot from.
formatting does not matter as bios does not see the disk anyways.
I'd look into a controller, or update firmware.

]Peter[

> On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:48:07 +
> David Larkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.
>>
>> I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old
>>  one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
>>
>> I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
>>
>> There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.
>>
>> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
>>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
>>
>> However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
>> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
>>
>> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP
>> installation all went to plan.
>>
>> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and
>> set root password.
>>
>> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
>>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
>>
>> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
>>
>> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
>>
>> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
>>
>> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?
>>
>> Thanks
>
> Some further info ...
>
>>From sysinstall, I  did Configure  --> Fdisk
>
> It shows
>
> Disk name : ad0
> |Disk Geom:  9729 cyls/255  heads/63 sectors = 156296385 sectors(76316MB)
>
> Offset SizeEND   Name  Ptype  DescSubtype Flags
>  0 63  62- 12 unused   0
> 63 156296322   156296384 ad0s1 8 freebsd   165
> 156296385  5103156301487 - 12unused0
>
>
> hope this helps
>
>
>
>
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread David Larkin
On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:48:07 +
David Larkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hi Guys,
> 
> I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.
> 
> I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old  
> one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
> 
> I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
> 
> There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.
> 
> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
> 
> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP 
> installation all went to plan.
> 
> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and set 
> root password.
> 
> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> 
> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
> 
> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
> 
> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
> 
> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?
> 
> Thanks

Some further info ...

>From sysinstall, I  did Configure  --> Fdisk

It shows

Disk name : ad0
|Disk Geom:  9729 cyls/255  heads/63 sectors = 156296385 sectors(76316MB)

Offset SizeEND   Name  Ptype  DescSubtype Flags
 0 63  62- 12 unused   0
63 156296322   156296384 ad0s1 8 freebsd   165
156296385  5103156301487 - 12unused0


hope this helps




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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Aryeh M. Friedman
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Nerius Landys wrote:
>> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
>>>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
>>>
>>> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
>>>
>>> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
>>
>> I'm pretty sure this isn't a matter of what bits and bytes are on your
>> hard disk. (It's not an issue of formatting.)  Someone correct me if I'm
>> wrong someone.  It seems that the issue is a hardware issue.  For example,
>> try a different jumper configuration on the back of the physical hard
>> drive.  Also, there are probably two places on the IDE cable where you can
>> plug in your hard drive.  Try plugging your hard drive to the very end IDE
>> connector (not the middle one) and try setting the hard drive jumper
>> configuration to "master".  This might help.  Just an idea.
>>
>>
> A couple of other thoughts.  In the BIOS settings you can probably set the
> order of devices it will try to boot from.  Set your hard drive as the
first
> device, or at least make sure it's in the list of devices to boot.
>
> Once you get the BIOS to recognize your drive and try to boot from it,
if it
> still ain't booting it probably means that you didn't write anything to the
> hard disk MBR during install.  You didn't install a boot manager or a
simple
> boot program into the MBR.

If you failed to do this it should give an error message about there
being no OS

- --
Aryeh M. Friedman
FloSoft Systems, Java Tool Developers
Developer, not business, friendly
http://www.flosoft-systems.com

"Free software != Free beer"

Blog:
  
http://www.flosoft-systems.com/flosoft_systems_community/blogs/aryeh/index.php
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Version: GnuPG v2.0.4 (FreeBSD)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

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LN3bwlMTBjWfoGYT4VLZnuQ=
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Nerius Landys
>
> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
> >  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
> >
> > and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
> >
> > How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?
>
>
> I'm pretty sure this isn't a matter of what bits and bytes are on your
> hard disk. (It's not an issue of formatting.)  Someone correct me if I'm
> wrong someone.  It seems that the issue is a hardware issue.  For example,
> try a different jumper configuration on the back of the physical hard
> drive.  Also, there are probably two places on the IDE cable where you can
> plug in your hard drive.  Try plugging your hard drive to the very end IDE
> connector (not the middle one) and try setting the hard drive jumper
> configuration to "master".  This might help.  Just an idea.
>
>
A couple of other thoughts.  In the BIOS settings you can probably set the
order of devices it will try to boot from.  Set your hard drive as the first
device, or at least make sure it's in the list of devices to boot.

Once you get the BIOS to recognize your drive and try to boot from it, if it
still ain't booting it probably means that you didn't write anything to the
hard disk MBR during install.  You didn't install a boot manager or a simple
boot program into the MBR.
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Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread Nerius Landys
> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
>  Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]
>
> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.
>
> How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?


I'm pretty sure this isn't a matter of what bits and bytes are on your hard
disk. (It's not an issue of formatting.)  Someone correct me if I'm wrong
someone.  It seems that the issue is a hardware issue.  For example, try a
different jumper configuration on the back of the physical hard drive.
Also, there are probably two places on the IDE cable where you can plug in
your hard drive.  Try plugging your hard drive to the very end IDE connector
(not the middle one) and try setting the hard drive jumper configuration to
"master".  This might help.  Just an idea.
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formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]

2008-01-25 Thread David Larkin
Hi Guys,

I'm trying to  install FreeBSD  6.3 on an old PC.

I have  bought a  new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig  disk,  to replace the old  one. 
I will have only one disk in the PC.

I am  looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.

There  is  no CD  drive on  the PC.

When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
 Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]

However, by holding down  F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp

This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP 
installation all went to plan.

I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and set root 
password.

However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
 Detecting  IDE  Primary  Master ...  [Press F4 to skip]

and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect  the IDE disk.

How do I format disk so BIOS  recognises it ?

I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.

Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?

Thanks
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