From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Sep 5 14:47:32 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C75CA16A4BF for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 14:47:32 -0700 (PDT) Received: from clunix.cl.msu.edu (clunix.cl.msu.edu [35.9.2.10]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5732344011 for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 14:47:29 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from jerrymc@clunix.cl.msu.edu) Received: from clunix.cl.msu.edu (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by clunix.cl.msu.edu (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h85LlNOg025868; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 17:47:23 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from jerrymc@localhost) by clunix.cl.msu.edu (8.12.9/8.12.9/Submit) id h85LlMIN025867; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 17:47:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Jerry McAllister Message-Id: <200309052147.h85LlMIN025867@clunix.cl.msu.edu> To: jhorvath@frabill.com Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 17:47:22 -0400 (EDT) In-Reply-To: from "Jim" at Sep 05, 2003 02:18:32 PM X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL2] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: 5.1 & WD 80.0GB SE Drive Geometry X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2003 21:47:32 -0000 > > Let me start by qualifying I am extremely new to FreeBSD (I have performed a > whopping two installs thus far). > > I am looking to fire up a machine with a single western digital special > edition 80GB IDE drive for simple storage and testing. > > The BIOS detects the correct geometry for the drive, and both Windows 2000 > and Linux (RedHat 9) correctly detect the geometry and install on the drive > (each OS installed independently to verify the drive and BIOS were working - > this is not a multi-boot setup). > > FreeBSD version 5.1 however, pops up a message stating the geometry chosen > by FreeBSD during installation is incorrect. > > If I hit "G" when assigning the slices and drop in the correct geometry (as > reported by the BIOS), I can assign slices (defaults) and the installation > runs through, but it will fail on the next boot (won't even get to the boot > manager). > > If I select "G" when assigning slices, plug in the values, then force a > write using the "W" option, I get a warning, then everything installs and > fails on reboot. Don't try to change the geometry from what it reports. Leave it as it thinks it is. ////jerry > > Note: This same machine will accept an installation and run beautifully > using a different hard drive (anything I have other than a Western Digital > 80GB Special Edition), and I have tried two of the 80GB special edition > drives to ensure it is not a mechanical problem with just one of the drives. > Both of the special edition drives performed identically (which is to say > not at all). > > Google is mute on the subject. > > Any help would be appreciated. > > Jim >