Date: Tue, 31 Jan 95 17:33:24 GMT From: johnb@mailserver.aixssc.uk.ibm.com To: freeBSd-questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: FreeBSD installation; can't find /kernel Message-ID: <18891.9501311733@blue.aixssc.uk.ibm.com>
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Hello,
Please help me, because I'm reaching the end of my tether on
this one. I'm close to giving up ...
In summary, I get an error along the lines of "bad disk label: can't
find /kernel" when trying to boot/install.
Here's what happens :-
I have a 486sx with an Ultrastore ESDI disk controller with
two ~310Meg disks (low-level formatted) with the following geometry :-
1224 cyls, 36 secs/track, 15 heads
I have DOS installed on the first disk (disk 1) and I have written
an MBR to that disk so that I can choose which OS to boot.
I have been able to use the second disk as a DOS partition with
no problems; now I want to install FreeBSD onto it.
As recommended in one of you're FAQs, I've used DOS's FDISK to create
a DOS slice on the second disk so that I can use the same geometry
information. I then boot from the FreeBSD floppy and go into FDISK and
delete the DOS slice and then go for U to use the entire space available
for FreeBSD and B to write an MBR onto the disk. I then go into Disklabel
and assign partition information and mountpoints. When I go for Proceed,
the install information is copied to the disk and the machine reboots.
I then get a prompt from the MBR on the first disk :-
F1 DOS
F5 disk2
so I select F5 to goto disk2. Then I get a prompt from the MBR on the
second disk :-
F1 FreeBSD
F5 disk1
so I go for F1. Then I get the FreeBSD boot message and the error
along the lines of "bad disk label: can't find /kernel".
I try entering "wd(1,a)" but get the same error.
During the whole process I've noticed several unusual things that
I can't find an explanation for. Maybe they have something to do with
my problems? :-
- As FreeBSD boots from the floppy, it detects each of my disks
(wd0 and wd1) with the correct geometry, but then says that
it is changing the size of each from 640080 to 642600 sectors.
I don't know where either of these numbers are coming from, and I
don't understand why it should be trying to INCREASE the size of
the disk?
- When I go into the FreeBSD install's FDISK, it thinks that the
disk geometry is :-
637 cyls, 63 secs/track, 16 heads
(I guess this is in some way related to the information that DOS's
FDISK has written to the disk, but once again, I can't see where
the numbers come from?)
- In FreeBSD Fdisk, despite the fact that the disk geometry at the
top says 637 cyls, 63 secs/track, 16 heads, the slice inforation
displayed after pressing U to use entire disk for FreeBSD slice 1,
shows :-
Phys=(c0/h0/s1..c1023/h14/s36) Sector=(0..642599)
I've tried all sorts of things including :-
- changing the settings for the second disk in my AMI BIOS.
- low-level formatting the disk with and without cylinder
translation
- various disk geometry's in FreeBSD's Fdisk.
If I download pfdisktc.zip, would that be able to help me?
Help!!
--
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__)(_)| )| ) |__)|_|)(|_(_)| )
(John Buxton)
--------------------------------------------------------
IBM AIX Support Specialist, ADG Group
AIX Support Centre, 11 Floor
Alencon House, Basingstoke
Hampshire, United Kingdom
--------------------------------------------------------
Personal calls: 0256 343000 x316887
AIX Support Centre: 0256 811587 (you need a contract)
email: johnb@aixssc.uk.ibm.com
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