HP Pavillion laptop can't boot FreeBSD

[Gayn Winters]

> [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org] On Behalf Of 
> Derrick Ryalls
> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 6:35 PM
> To: Ted Mittelstaedt
> Cc: FreeBSD Questions
> Subject: Re: HP Pavillion laptop can't boot FreeBSD
> 
> On 12/22/05, Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm at toybox.placo.com> wrote:

> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
> > >[mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org]On Behalf Of 
> Derrick Ryalls

> > >> >Greetings,
> > >> >
> > >> >I recently purchased an HP Pavillion laptop (dv8000) that has
> > >> >an AMD-64 CPU,
> > >> >with the intent on running FreeBSD 6.0 (i386) as a dual boot
> > >> >option.  I have
> > >> >installed BSD numerous times on various desktops, but this
> > >is my first
> > >> >attempt on a laptop.
> > >> >
> > >> >When I boot off the CD, before the boot menu comes up, an
> > >error message
> > >> >comes up: elf32_lookup_symbol: corrupt symbol table.  Then the
> > >> >normal boot
> > >> >menu comes up, at which point selecting option 1 
> (normal) or option 2
> > >> >(without ACPI) causes the BTX loader to halt after
> > >displaying some hex
> > >> >errors.  I even tried hitting option 6, unsettng acpi_load,
> > >> >then booting,
> > >> >but the same error comes up.
> > >> >
> > >> >I tried 6.0 AMD-64 and didn't get as far.  Before the boot menu
> > >> >could come
> > >> >up, it continually spews what appears to be the same/similar
> > >> >hex errors and
> > >> >didn't even respond to Cntrl-Alt-Delete.  Trying 5.4, I don't
> > >> >get the elf32
> > >> >error before the boot menu, but if I select option 1 it has
> > >> >trouble loading
> > >> >ACPI and then shuts down.  Selecting option 2 (with the 5.4
> > >cd) does not
> > >> >bring up an error, the system just shuts down.  Out of
> > >> >curiousity, I tried a
> > >> >Knoppix 4.0 CD and was able to fully boot and get a functioning
> > >> >system up
> > >> >(albeit running off the CD).
> > >> >
> > >> >My bios has painfully few options, such as boot order and
> > >disabling the
> > >> >onboard wireless nic, nothing else.
> > >> >
> > >> >Is there something else I should try, or do I have to wait
> > >for the time
> > >> >being?
> > >> >
> > >> >TIA for any suggestions.
> > >> >
> > >> >-Derrick
> > >> On 12/21/05, Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm at toybox.placo.com> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > boot off floppies and try a ftp install.  Or, boot windows
> > >> > and burn the freebsd cd in the laptop (i assume the laptop has
> > >> > a cd burner) sounds like a media error.
> > >> >
> > >> > Ted
> > >>
> > >>
> > >I don't have a floppy drive to use, but in any case I used 
> 3 different
> > >FreeBSD CDs, all failed.  One of the CDs I had previously used
> > >to install on
> > >a desktop, so I doubt it is a media issue.
> > >
> >
> > Try booting a 4.11 CD, I have systems which will boot 4.11 fine
> > but will not boot 5.4 or later.  If an install works on 
> that, I would
> > send-pr the bug.
> >
> > Also, make sure to firmware/bios update the laptop.
> >
> > Ted
> >
> >
> I tried 4.11 and got the hex errors even quicker, no chance 
> to interrupt
> boot sequence.  There isn't a bios update available for it either.

Assuming you've double checked the BIOS version and tried burning the
install CDs on that CDROM drive, I'd try actually installing various
OS's.  Try FreeDOS, any version of Linux, another copy of Windows.  Try
first various bootable CDs (games, diagnostics, etc.) as they are quick
tests. If all can install, then send-pr.  If you get errors on another
OS or bootable CD, then suspect the CDROM drive.  In the meantime, you
might buy yourself a USB floppy drive (handy in any case, especially
if/when you need to update the BIOS) and see if you can boot from that.
The HP support desk will help you diagnose the CDROM drive and with
booting from a USB floppy drive.

Good luck,

-gayn

Bristol Systems Inc.
714/532-6776
www.bristolsystems.com