*BSD News Article 50727


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From: brian@awfulhak.demon.co.uk (Brian Somers)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Can't get FreeBSD to Boot!
Date: 11 Sep 1995 11:57:21 +0100
Organization: None
Lines: 27
Message-ID: <4314mh$jba@awfulhak.demon.co.uk>
References: <42vcre$664@nntp.interaccess.com> <42vebq$cm0@gryphon.phoenix.net>
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X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]

Geoff Mohler (gemohler@phoenix.phoenix.net) wrote:
: January (january@thymaster.interaccess.com) wrote:
: : *grr* this is an annoying problem. I just installed FreeBSD 2.0.5 onto my 
: : hard disk. Problem is, it won't boot. If I hit enter at the Boot: prompt, 
: : all that happens is
: : |
: :


: I have similar problems..except I cannot no matter what I do, 
: get it to boot  form HD at all.  I have to use floppy.
:  
: I used os-bs and told it to activate the first partition, then I get
: a 'missing operating system' error.
:  
: One thing linux has over BSD, is a bloody simple fdisk program.

You guessed correctly, the primary bootstrap gives the boot prompt, then
loads the secondary bootstrap.  After this is loaded, the BIOS is zapped,
but until then, it is used to read the disk.  Unless you have an "extended
BIOS", it can't address past 1Gb (1024 cylinder limit).

--
Brian <brian@awfulhak.demon.co.uk>

Don't _EVER_ lose your sense of humour....