Installing FreeBSD 4.8 on an NT 4 System

[Harry Veltman]

After installing FreeBSD 4.8 into an unpartitioned free-space, it states
that the installation was successful, but when I start the computer and
press F3 to load FreeBSD instead of NT 4, it finally wants me to enter my
user name and password.  After doing so, it displays a "$" sign and a
blinking space which waits for me to enter a command, but I have no clue
what it wants me to enter.  If I enter / is states "permission is denied."
Installation instructions state "always restore the BIOS to natural drive
numbering before installing FreeFSD..."  Will you please tell me how to do
that?  I can't find a clue in BIOS Setup or in Windows.  Could that have
anything to do with my problem getting FreeBSD to load?  I installed it from
a CD-ROM I bought.  I've spent two days re-installing it several times and
trying different things.  I have read part of the FreeBSD Handbook about
installation.  On a previous installation, it stated "WARNING:  / was not
properly dismounted," but my recent installation gave no such warning or
error messages.  FreeBSD is very frustrating.  I'm trying to find a good,
cheap OS as an alternative to buying a new Apple with OS X Jaguar or
upgrading my NT 4 to Windows 2000.  I thought FreeBSD might be the solution
after reading about it, but it doesn't work.  If I have trouble installing
an OS, it isn't my fault, but the producers.  I have installed Windows NT 4
many times, and it works.  I have installed Red Hat Linux 7.2 several times.
It installs easy from CD-ROM, but won't run my printer, and won't access the
internet without great difficulty.