HP Pavillion laptop can't boot FreeBSD

[Ted Mittelstaedt]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
>[mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org]On Behalf Of Derrick Ryalls
>Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 10:26 AM
>To: Ted Mittelstaedt
>Cc: FreeBSD Questions
>Subject: Re: HP Pavillion laptop can't boot FreeBSD
>
>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
>> >[mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org]On Behalf Of
>Derrick Ryalls
>> >Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:02 PM
>> >To: FreeBSD Questions
>> >Subject: HP Pavillion laptop can't boot FreeBSD
>> >
>> >
>> >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