Disk Geometry
Jerry McAllister
jerrymc at msu.edu
Thu Feb 28 20:41:50 UTC 2008
On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 09:30:19PM +0100, ras bsd wrote:
> On 28/02/2008, Jerry McAllister <jerrymc at msu.edu> wrote:
> > On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 12:48:37AM +0100, ras bsd wrote:
> >
> > > Hello list, this is my first post here.
> > >
> > > My problem is:
> > >
> > > I've installed the OS in my laptop in this order, Win XP and Debian
> > > GNU/Linux. I'm trying to dive into the freebsd world from many years
> > > in GNU/Linux. When i start the installation, when i have to enter in
> > > the disk partition section an error appears saying that the disk
> > > geometry is not valid and, anyway, I can not see the free disk space
> > > that i left free after the other OS. My scope is keep working the
> > > three OS.
> > > How can i know the correct disk geometry? What am i doing wrong?
> >
> >
> > Well, I don't know why it does not see the free space unless you
> > are looking in the wrong step. There is often confusion by new
> > users who come from the MS world because FreeBSD uses the term 'slice'
> > and MS uses the term 'primary partition' to refer to the same thing.
> > Due to ancient conventions in Bios and etc, there can be up to 4 slices
> > (or primary partitions) on any physical disk.
> >
> > Lunix has its own notion of extended partition as well. Don't try
> > to use that for FreeBSD.
> >
> > FreeBSD must be installed/built in a free slice (primary partition by
> > MS vocabulary). It cannot be put in some extended partition space.
> >
> > It is possible that you have already used up the 4 slices if the laptop
> > manufacturer put a diagnostic utility slice on the drive. That is
> > normally hidden from MS, but will show up to FreeBSD. If that is true,
> > and you have used up the number of slices, then FreeBSD will not allow
> > you to add any. You will need to use a tool such as 'gparted' or
> > Partition Magic to shuffle things around and maybe squeeze the other
> > slices and even nuke one.
> >
> > Then FreeBSD uses the term 'partition' to refer to the subdivisions
> > of a slice. MS has some things called extended partitions which are
> > not the same thing at all.
> >
> > Anyway, the point where you first need to see the free space is in
> > the step dealing with the slices which is done with fdisk(8).
> >
> > As for the disk geometry issue, it normally does not matter. That
> > is the BIOS complaining. You want to just let it go ahead and
> > build things and try to ignore that error message. Once it gets
> > past loading the boot sector from a slice, FreeBSD no longer used
> > the BIOS. It handles everything itself.
> >
> > There are exceptions to this response, but go ahead (once you get the
> > free space issue figured out) and try it and see if it works. It
> > won't hurt anything and if it works, you're home free. If it doesn't
> > then you have some more exploring to do. I am not quite sure what
> > because although I have frequently seen that message - almost all
> > the time, I have never had it not work to just go ahead and slice,
> > partition and build and ignore the message. That is with both IDE(SATA)
> > and SCSI(SAS).
> >
> > So, your real problem is finding that elusive free slice space or
> > freeing up a slice number to use for it.
> >
> > Good luck,
> >
> > ////jerry
> >
> > > Mi laptop is Intel Core2 Duo and the Hard Disk is SATA 200 Gb Toshiba
> > > MK2035GSS-(S1).
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > freebsd-questions at freebsd.org mailing list
> > > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
> > > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe at freebsd.org"
> >
> Thank you very much Jerry.
>
> It was the problem, I had the free space in a extended partition made
> of ext3fs Linux. The solution was move the space and leave that
> partition totally unalocated. After that everything was ok with the
> installation. I'm on it.
>
> Thank you.
Hey, I got to get one once in a while.
Glad it is working. FreeBSD is a good one.
////jerry
> _______________________________________________
> freebsd-questions at freebsd.org mailing list
> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
> To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe at freebsd.org"
More information about the freebsd-questions
mailing list