formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary
Master ... [Press F4 to skip]
David Larkin
david.larkin at whitburncc.org.uk
Fri Jan 25 16:08:30 PST 2008
It is a fairly old machine I am trying to use.
One that has been switched off and gathering dust for some time.
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS 2A5LHL1A
Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG, AnEnergy Star Ally
Copyright(c) 1984-99 Award Software, Inc.
I've never updated a BIOS before and it sounds a bit scarey.
I guess I'll just overwrite an old 10Gig disk with FreeBSD 4.3 on instead.
I don't really need the extra space but thought it would be sensible to install on a new disk.
Probably stick the new disk on ebay ;-)
> iH,
> Sounds to me like the BIOS doesn't see the disk at all;
> disk too big for bios?
> I remember having to "boot" [manager] from an old HD with the actual OS on
> a new big HD that the bios would not see/boot from.
> formatting does not matter as bios does not see the disk anyways.
> I'd look into a controller, or update firmware.
>
> ]Peter[
>
> > On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:48:07 +0000
> > David Larkin <david.larkin at whitburncc.org.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Guys,
> >>
> >> I'm trying to install FreeBSD 6.3 on an old PC.
> >>
> >> I have bought a new Maxtor DiamondMax 80Gig disk, to replace the old
> >> one. I will have only one disk in the PC.
> >>
> >> I am looking to build using boot floppies and FTP.
> >>
> >> There is no CD drive on the PC.
> >>
> >> When I turn the PC on the BIOS hangs with the message
> >> Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]
> >>
> >> However, by holding down F4, I was able to boot using the floppies
> >> boot.flp , kern1.flp , kern2.flp & kern3.flp
> >>
> >> This detected disk and I selected standard configuration, and the FTP
> >> installation all went to plan.
> >>
> >> I got message saying installation was successful and I added users and
> >> set root password.
> >>
> >> However, when I reboot (without floppies) I still get the message
> >> Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]
> >>
> >> and when I go into BIOS , it still doesn't detect the IDE disk.
> >>
> >> How do I format disk so BIOS recognises it ?
> >>
> >> I read something about using DOS fdisk , but I haven't got DOS floppies.
> >>
> >> Can I format disk using boot or fixit floppies ?
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >
> > Some further info ...
> >
> >>From sysinstall, I did Configure --> Fdisk
> >
> > It shows
> >
> > Disk name : ad0
> > |Disk Geom: 9729 cyls/255 heads/63 sectors = 156296385 sectors(76316MB)
> >
> > Offset Size END Name Ptype Desc Subtype Flags
> > 0 63 62 - 12 unused 0
> > 63 156296322 156296384 ad0s1 8 freebsd 165
> > 156296385 5103 156301487 - 12 unused 0
> >
> >
> > hope this helps
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>
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