aboot not working or something

[Bryan Dina]

On Mon, 2005-04-04 at 23:05 +0400, Sergey Tikhonov wrote:
> Bryan Dina wrote:
> 
> >On Mon, 2005-04-04 at 21:12 +0400, Sergey Tikhonov wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>Hello,
> >>
> >>Bryan Dina wrote:
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >>>I am installing AlphaCore 0.9 on an AlphaStation 200 4/166.  The install
> >>>seemed to go okay, 2 things to note, I received a warning when
> >>>partitioning the drive, I went with auto-partition for ease in
> >>>installation, it warned about /boot not having enough space.  The next
> >>>problem happened when performing the post-installation, the system hung
> >>>at 50% for an extended period of time, I switched virtual-terminals and
> >>>ran top to notice modprobe was running, in a loop incrementing the
> >>>pid... at about 25% CPU... I assumed it was continually invoking to
> >>>probe "devices" I guess.. anyway, that finally finished, and I went to
> >>>boot the system, no-go.  I figured that something messed up with aboot,
> >>>possible related to the partitioning warning.... however I do not know
> >>>anything about aboot.... so I am trying to learn.  I have booted back
> >>>off the CD into rescue, I have the installed system mounted... any
> >>>ideas???
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>To use "autopartitioning" was a bad idea. :) Unfortunatelly, it is 
> >>know-how how to install linux on alpha using aboot loader.
> >>You have to partition your drive manually using "fdisk" from one of 
> >>consoles. You have to leave some free space at the beginning of hard 
> >>drive for aboot loader. Good practice to create a first partition from 
> >>the second cylinder.
> >>Another thing to mention - fdisk should create BSD type partition table.
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Hmm, disk druid will not play nicely with me, I cannot seem to offset
> >the /boot partition for the aboot software at the beginning of the disk.
> >I also can not seem to even create an "empty" space on the drive
> >anywhere... 
> >  
> >
> You have to switch to shell prompt and use "fdisk" command just before 
> disk partitioning (not disk druid).
> In fdisk, you have to use "bsd" mode. If your disk is partitioned with 
> DOS partition table type - you would have to
> delete everything, then create new bsd disklabel (you might need to 
> clean zero out first drive sector), then create partitions.
> 
> >any help would be greatly appreciated... I am not new to Linux, just
> >Linux on the Alpha.
> >  
> >
> Well, there are some specifics. :)
> 

unfortunately this is not working, I have been reading through the
documentation and feel embarrassed to say that I have read in the
installation notes what you are explaining to do.  I am having problems
getting Disk Druid to recognize the fdisk partitions.... it complains
that the disk info can not be recognized and wants to initialize the
disk before continuing.  If I do not initialize the disk, it restarts on
me, if I do, it erases the disk.  I check with fdisk and the disk
partitions have been removed.  When I start over with fdisk, I create
two partitions to keep it simple for now (the machine is slow so making
errors is not fun), one ext2, and one swap.  I then use "w" to write the
table(s), and quit fdisk.  I then swap back over to the installer,
select Disk Druid, and again, it complains and wants to re-initialize
the disk.  I reboot, and try again with out re-initializing, and again,
it complains.... what now???  I really would like to install Linux on
this machine! :)

--Bryan