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Date:      Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:36:57 -0500
From:      Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu>
To:        David Larkin <david.larkin@whitburncc.org.uk>
Cc:        Peter <fbsdq@peterk.org>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: formatting disk for FreeBSD : Detecting IDE Primary Master ... [Press F4 to skip]
Message-ID:  <20080126003657.GB45016@gizmo.acns.msu.edu>
In-Reply-To: <20080126004826.79c911e7@sparrow>
References:  <1250.63.65.46.186.1201301818.squirrel@webmail.pknet.net> <20080126004826.79c911e7@sparrow>

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On Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 12:48:26AM +0000, David Larkin wrote:

> 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  ;-)

How about sticking the new disk in as a second drive to contain all
your data - maybe mounted as /home??   

////jerry


> 
> > 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@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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> > >> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
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> > >
> > 
> > 
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