Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 15:10:18 +1030 (CST) From: Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au> To: dwhite@resnet.uoregon.edu Cc: michelle@fishbone.com, questions@freebsd.com Subject: Re: Boot problem with new FreeBSD install Message-ID: <199602040440.PAA03175@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.91.960203133946.2310B-100000@gdi.uoregon.edu> from "Doug White" at Feb 3, 96 01:41:47 pm
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Doug White stands accused of saying: > > After it was installed, I booted > > the computer for the first time, got the BootEasy menu, and chose F2 > > (FreeBSD). But instead of booting FreeBSD, the menu kept reappearing > > with F? as the default. > > This is why I don't like booteasy: it did this to me. > > I remember hearing the solution is to set your FreeBSD partition as > "active" on the second disk, using FDISK. Someone correct me, please. > Ok, some explanations about how Booteasy works may be helpful here. The F1-F4 entries are displayed to match the partition types in the partition table in the MBR. If there is another disk, the F5 entry is displayed. If you hit one of the F1-4 keys, Booteasy will look for the partition bootstrap record in the first sector of the partition, as defined by its partition table entry. If this succeeds, the key is saved as the default, and the record is executed, loading the chosen operating system. If the load _fails_ (bad magic number etc.) Booteasy redisplays the list, with F? shown as the default (no default). This most often happens when you have a geometry disagreement between FreeBSD and the BIOS, or when the partition is too far away (beyond the 1024 cylinder mark). F5 loads the MBR code from the second disk, and if it succeeds, it's executed. If this is another copy of Booteasy, the process repeats. If it's a DOS-style MBR, it will look for a bootable partition on the _first_ disk. If the load fails (bad magic numberm ie. no MBR on the second disk), then you get the F? prompt again. Booting a PC is a _drag_. Booteasy does a good job of being as sensible as it can. > Doug White | University of Oregon -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ ]] "wherever you go, there you are" - Buckaroo Banzai [[
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