Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:37:18 -0500 From: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> To: ras bsd <ras.bsd@gmail.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Disk Geometry Message-ID: <20080228203718.GB40133@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> In-Reply-To: <fcd72c1a0802281230n384c862fy27ea8517dccb93c1@mail.gmail.com> References: <fcd72c1a0802271548y72ff4777i89133e5f302e919b@mail.gmail.com> <20080228153543.GA38936@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> <fcd72c1a0802281230n384c862fy27ea8517dccb93c1@mail.gmail.com>
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On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 09:30:19PM +0100, ras bsd wrote: > On 28/02/2008, Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> wrote: > > On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 12:48:37AM +0100, ras bsd wrote: > > > > > Hello list, this is my first post here. > > > > > > My problem is: > > > > > > I've installed the OS in my laptop in this order, Win XP and Debian > > > GNU/Linux. I'm trying to dive into the freebsd world from many years > > > in GNU/Linux. When i start the installation, when i have to enter in > > > the disk partition section an error appears saying that the disk > > > geometry is not valid and, anyway, I can not see the free disk space > > > that i left free after the other OS. My scope is keep working the > > > three OS. > > > How can i know the correct disk geometry? What am i doing wrong? > > > > > > Well, I don't know why it does not see the free space unless you > > are looking in the wrong step. There is often confusion by new > > users who come from the MS world because FreeBSD uses the term 'slice' > > and MS uses the term 'primary partition' to refer to the same thing. > > Due to ancient conventions in Bios and etc, there can be up to 4 slices > > (or primary partitions) on any physical disk. > > > > Lunix has its own notion of extended partition as well. Don't try > > to use that for FreeBSD. > > > > FreeBSD must be installed/built in a free slice (primary partition by > > MS vocabulary). It cannot be put in some extended partition space. > > > > It is possible that you have already used up the 4 slices if the laptop > > manufacturer put a diagnostic utility slice on the drive. That is > > normally hidden from MS, but will show up to FreeBSD. If that is true, > > and you have used up the number of slices, then FreeBSD will not allow > > you to add any. You will need to use a tool such as 'gparted' or > > Partition Magic to shuffle things around and maybe squeeze the other > > slices and even nuke one. > > > > Then FreeBSD uses the term 'partition' to refer to the subdivisions > > of a slice. MS has some things called extended partitions which are > > not the same thing at all. > > > > Anyway, the point where you first need to see the free space is in > > the step dealing with the slices which is done with fdisk(8). > > > > As for the disk geometry issue, it normally does not matter. That > > is the BIOS complaining. You want to just let it go ahead and > > build things and try to ignore that error message. Once it gets > > past loading the boot sector from a slice, FreeBSD no longer used > > the BIOS. It handles everything itself. > > > > There are exceptions to this response, but go ahead (once you get the > > free space issue figured out) and try it and see if it works. It > > won't hurt anything and if it works, you're home free. If it doesn't > > then you have some more exploring to do. I am not quite sure what > > because although I have frequently seen that message - almost all > > the time, I have never had it not work to just go ahead and slice, > > partition and build and ignore the message. That is with both IDE(SATA) > > and SCSI(SAS). > > > > So, your real problem is finding that elusive free slice space or > > freeing up a slice number to use for it. > > > > Good luck, > > > > ////jerry > > > > > Mi laptop is Intel Core2 Duo and the Hard Disk is SATA 200 Gb Toshiba > > > MK2035GSS-(S1). > > > > > > Thank you. > > > _______________________________________________ > > > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > > > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > > > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > > > Thank you very much Jerry. > > It was the problem, I had the free space in a extended partition made > of ext3fs Linux. The solution was move the space and leave that > partition totally unalocated. After that everything was ok with the > installation. I'm on it. > > Thank you. Hey, I got to get one once in a while. Glad it is working. FreeBSD is a good one. ////jerry > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"
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