Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 18:13:53 +0200 From: Siegbert Baude <Siegbert.Baude@gmx.de> To: stickney@ece.arizona.edu Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Fdisk disagreas with BIOS over 120GB drive. Message-ID: <3F424CC1.6010000@gmx.de> In-Reply-To: <200308191308.h7JD80P9019500@clunix.cl.msu.edu> References: <200308191308.h7JD80P9019500@clunix.cl.msu.edu>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Hi, >>Fdisk (using /stand/sysinstall) disagrees with the values my bios is >>reporting. My BIOS reports that my 120GB drive has this geometry: 59131 >>Cylendars, 16 Heads, and 255 sectors. The drive is an IBM deskstar. When i >>try to enter the correct geometry, Fdisk gives me the message below. >> >>---------start message--------- >> Message >> WARNING: A geometry of 59131/16/255 for ad2 is incorrect. Using >> a more likely geometry. If this geometry is incorrect or you >> are unsure as to whether or not it's correct, please consult >> the Hardware Guide in the Documentation submenu or use the >> (G)eometry command to change it now. >> >> Remember: you need to enter whatever your BIOS thinks the >> geometry is! For IDE, it's what you were told in the BIOS >> setup. For SCSI, it's the translation mode your controller is >> using. Do NOT use a ``physical geometry''. >> (100%) >> [ OK ] >> Press enter or space >>----------end message---------- >> >> Sorry, i just had a closer look at the CHS numbers 59131/16/255 fdisk spits out and it is completely correct, this is no valid geometry! For all the glory details read: http://www.ata-atapi.com/hiwchs.htm#T5 In short, the number of sectors should be <=63. I remember, that I had the same problem with an Samsung SV1204H (also 120GB) and an Abit-BX133. I had to manually insert the correct numbers there. The disk reports 232632/16/63, but due to a small bug in the BIOS, I couldn't choose a cylinder value of 232632. So I used the 14596/255/63 mode. Note, that the sector number in both cases is <=63. The number of cylinders can slightly vary for your IBM disk. So I suggest to erase the partition table as I described before and then force the BIOS to use either the 16/63 (if possible) or 255/63 mode. Ciao Siegbert
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?3F424CC1.6010000>