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Date:      Mon, 30 Apr 2001 21:51:59 -0700
From:      "DeniseLA2" <DeniseLA2@netzero.net>
To:        <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Subject:   Please help the Newbie !!
Message-ID:  <000801c0d1fa$75db2820$35553604@dla>

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Hello FreeBSD folks,

Yeh, I'm a new guy.  Please have patience with me.  I did as instructed when 
wrestling with a problem and checked the erratta and FAQ's first, but I 
couldn't find the information I was looking for.  I love FreeBSD, (and I 
refuse to run LINUX); BSD works like a charm on my old Gateway P-100, so I am 
uptight now that I can't get it to work on my new system!  :)

Here is my problem:

When FreeBSD is going to format the disk and install the new filesystem on the 
hard drive, it comes back instantly telling me that it is:

A) "Unable to swap to /dev/ad0s1b:  Invalid Arguement.  This may cause
    the installation to foul up down the line if you don't have much memeory".

 After hitting OK, it says,

B) "Unable to make new Root file system on /dev/ad0s1a,
    Command Returned status 1".

 And finally,

C) "Unable to create new file system properly, aborting installation".

I find myself back at square one.  I created a 50MB /, a 160MB Swap (On 
account of 64MB RAM; [2.5 x 64MB=160MB]), a 40MB /var, and a 3682MB /usr.  
Everything was done properly, as far as I can tell.  I've installed this OS at 
least 30 times in different ways on two different systems (older P-I's) just 
for practice.  This has me absolutely stumped!

My new system is comprised of these major components:

1- Micro-Star International MS-6368 Micro-ATX Motherboard, (Supports Intel
   Celeron/Pentium III (FC-PGA)processor and VIA Cyrix III with MMX).

1- Cyrix III 650MHz socket 370 processor

1- Western Digital Corporation 4.31GB HD (8912/15/63)

1- 64MB Viking PC-133 SDRAM

I am using the on-board video 'card' (Trident SVGA, but I don't know if it's
supported yet) and SoundBlaster Pro sound card.  I did try the installation 
using my old S3 Trio64v+ video card (supported), adjusted the BIOS to 
initialize that card first, and I just got an outright kernel panic.  As far 
as I know, I have abundant memory, plenty of swap space, a supported processor 
that is a look-a-like of the x86 architecture, etc., I tried both setting the 
jumper on my hard drive to Master, and also to Standard.  Standard is a 
setting that Western Digital ships it's hard drives with and should be used 
when no slave drive is to be utilized.

For some reason, it sounds like a hardware problem to me, perhaps a jumper 
setting or a BIOS setting or something?  I went throught the BIOS with a fine 
toothed comb looking for any setting that might mess with BSD.  I found nothing.  
I am a little suspicious of the motherboard, as to its Intel MX architecture compatibility .  
(or whatever that was) Perhaps it does not comply.  I remember reading it somewhere
in "Configuring the Kernel" (Ch. 18) in the FreeBSD handbook that it is a necessity 
if not running DEC Alpha equipment.

If you could Please give me some insight to this most exasperating problem, I 
would be so grateful!  I am a beginning computer science student and only just 
learning how to use UNIX effectively, so as to 'Become A UNIX Wizard, Not A 
DOS Lizard!' (as my prof is fond of saying), and to lose the Microsoft taint.

Thank you so much for your time and help.  Soon I will be able to 
return the favor to the FreeBSD project!  Count on it!

Erik Hamlin

(eriktheviking@operamail.com)
 or
(he71811@sy18ux70.syi.pcc.edu)

PS- Please let me know if I can furnish you with more pertinent information to 
help solve my problem!








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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello FreeBSD folks,<BR><BR>Yeh, I'm a new 
guy.&nbsp; Please have patience with me.&nbsp; I did as instructed when 
<BR>wrestling with a problem and checked the erratta and FAQ's first, but I 
<BR>couldn't find the information I was looking for.&nbsp; I love FreeBSD, (and 
I <BR>refuse to run LINUX); BSD works like a charm on my old Gateway P-100, so I 
am <BR>uptight now that I can't get it to work on my new system!&nbsp; 
:)<BR><BR>Here is my problem:<BR><BR>When FreeBSD is going to format the disk 
and install the new filesystem on the <BR>hard drive, it comes back instantly 
telling me that it is:<BR><BR>A) "Unable to swap to /dev/ad0s1b:&nbsp; Invalid 
Arguement.&nbsp; This may cause<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the installation to foul 
up down the line if you don't have much memeory".<BR><BR> After hitting OK, it 
says,<BR><BR>B) "Unable to make new Root file system on 
/dev/ad0s1a,<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Command Returned status 1".<BR><BR> And 
finally,<BR><BR>C) "Unable to create new file system properly, aborting 
installation".<BR><BR>I find myself back at square one.&nbsp; I created a 50MB 
/, a 160MB Swap (On <BR>account of 64MB RAM; [2.5 x 64MB=160MB]), a 40MB /var, 
and a 3682MB /usr.&nbsp; <BR>Everything was done properly, as far as I can 
tell.&nbsp; I've installed this OS at <BR>least 30 times in different ways on 
two different systems (older P-I's) just <BR>for practice.&nbsp; This has me 
absolutely stumped!<BR><BR>My new system is comprised of these major 
components:<BR><BR>1- Micro-Star International MS-6368 Micro-ATX Motherboard, 
(Supports Intel<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp; Celeron/Pentium III (FC-PGA)processor and VIA 
Cyrix III with MMX).<BR><BR>1- Cyrix III 650MHz socket 370 processor<BR><BR>1- 
Western Digital Corporation 4.31GB HD (8912/15/63)<BR><BR>1- 64MB Viking PC-133 
SDRAM<BR><BR>I am using the on-board video 'card' (Trident SVGA, but I don't 
know if it's<BR>supported yet) and SoundBlaster Pro sound card.&nbsp; I did try 
the installation <BR>using my old S3 Trio64v+ video card (supported), adjusted 
the BIOS to <BR>initialize that card first, and I just got an outright kernel 
panic.&nbsp; As far <BR>as I know, I have abundant memory, plenty of swap space, 
a supported processor <BR>that is a look-a-like of the x86 architecture, etc., I 
tried both setting the <BR>jumper on my hard drive to Master, and also to 
Standard.&nbsp; Standard is a <BR>setting that Western Digital ships it's hard 
drives with and should be used <BR>when no slave drive is to be 
utilized.<BR><BR>For some reason, it sounds like a hardware problem to me, 
perhaps a jumper <BR>setting or a BIOS setting or something?&nbsp; I went 
throught the BIOS with a fine <BR>toothed comb looking for any setting that 
might mess with BSD.&nbsp; I found nothing.&nbsp; <BR>I am a little suspicious 
of the motherboard, as to&nbsp;its Intel MX </FONT><FONT face=Arial 
size=2>architecture compatibility .&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(or <FONT face=Arial size=2>whatever that was) 
</FONT>Perhaps it does not comply.&nbsp; I remember reading it 
somewhere</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in "Configuring the Kernel" (Ch. 18) in the FreeBSD 
handbook that it is&nbsp;a necessity </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>if not running DEC Alpha equipment.<BR><BR>If you 
could Please give me some insight to this most exasperating problem, I <BR>would 
be so grateful!&nbsp; I am a beginning computer science student and only just 
<BR>learning how to use UNIX effectively, so as to 'Become A UNIX Wizard, Not A 
<BR>DOS Lizard!' (as my prof is fond of saying), and to lose the Microsoft 
taint.<BR><BR>Thank you so much for your time and help.&nbsp; Soon I will be 
able to <BR>return the favor to the FreeBSD project!&nbsp; Count on 
it!<BR><BR>Erik Hamlin<BR><BR>(eriktheviking@operamail.com)<BR> 
or<BR>(he71811@sy18ux70.syi.pcc.edu)<BR><BR>PS- Please let me know if I can 
furnish you with more pertinent information to <BR>help solve my 
problem!</DIV><BR>
<P><BR></P><BR>
<DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
help

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