Installation

[K Anderson]

Harry Veltman wrote:
> 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 "$" sign and a
> blinking space which waits for me to enter a command, but I have no clue
> what it wants me to enter.  If I enter / is states "permission is denied."
> Installation instructions state "always restore the BIOS to natural drive
> numbering before installing FreeFSD..."  Will you please tell me how to do
> that?
Being able to log in to the system is a good thing. The next thing is, 
and i'm barrowing from M$, Where do you want to go today? Do you want to 
run X Windows? Then install the X Windows stuff. Do you want to go do 
image processing? Then go in to /usr/ports/graphics/gimp1 (you should 
have installed the ports collection information). It all depends on what 
you want to do. As for the / producing "permission is denied" that's 
normal (I think) because it does it on mine. If by chance you did 
install ports go in to /usr/ports/misc/instant-workstation/ and read the 
Makefile and pkg-descr files. One tells you what it going to be 
installed and what is needed to make it work and the pkg-descr file 
tells you what the port is about (i.e. its function and other information).

>  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.
When you get / was not properly dismounted it usually means that the 
file system (or the computer) was not shut down properly. You did good 
in getting it installed.

 >  Installing 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.  I can follow explicit instructions.  I have
> installed Windows NT 4
> many times, and it works even though it didn't come with explicit
> instructions either.  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, then it won't access any URL.  Thanks.
Yep installing FreeBSD can be frustrating, but as I said before if you 
were able to log in to the system you did good. As long as you were able 
to start up Windows still that's even better. The frustration can be 
reduced by reading the documentation (if you installed it along with 
other items) as well as ensuring that all  your hardware is on the 
FreeBSD compatability list.

Did you read the information on printing? It's there. Since anything 
*nix isn't Windows it takes a little more effort to do it all but once 
you make it past those points you're all good to go and stuff. Are you 
using a modem or something more high speed like DSL or cable? Find the 
PPP primer if you are using a modem, if not that for DSL and cable it is 
just  a matter of reading some information about rc.conf (man rc.conf).

Hope some of this helps you get going.

Good luck.