Installation won't boot

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mightyken
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:04 pm

Installation won't boot

Post by mightyken »

Hello all.

I realize that this subject has been brought up before, but I didn't see an answer relevant to my situation in any of the previous posts, so here goes.

First I prepared the hard disk by booting with a DOS diskette and running
fdisk/mbr.

I then installed ReactOS 0.3.10 from a CD-R onto my Pentium III 933-MHz PC with 512 MB RAM and a 30 GB hard drive. The PC has USB mouse and keyboard.
The installation goes smoothly with the default parameters. The drive gets
set up with a single partition, and a FAT 32 file system. I select to have the
bootloader installed on the hard drive.

When it comes time to reboot, here is what I get:

Loading FreeLoader...
Inode is not a directory
Press any key

When I press a key, nothing happens. The computer seems locked up.

Choosing to install the bootloader on a floppy, and then booting with that,
produces similar results. Choosing not to install the bootloader leads to the expected "not a system disk" result.

Can someone tell me what is going wrong, and how to correct it?

Thanks,

MightyKen.
hto
Developer
Posts: 2193
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:43 pm

Post by hto »

Read this tutorial, maybe it will help. It seems that the bootloader for some reason recognizes file system as Ext2.
mightyken
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:04 pm

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by mightyken »

Re: the tutorial.

I tried it. It didn't make any difference. Super Grub just sees to do
what fdisk/mbr does, which I already tried. Freeloader is loading,
it just can't load ReactOS. Any other ideas?

MightyKen.
hto
Developer
Posts: 2193
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:43 pm

Post by hto »

The code which recognizes FS type is here. It does not look very trustworthy.

Try to use some tool to wipe out the disk (fill it with zeros or random numbers).
zydon
Posts: 160
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:03 am

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by zydon »

Check your HD jumper to set as the primary HD. If not, switch the jumper appropriately. Then, try reboot the PC again.


Thank you for testing ReactOS.
jmmercy
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:55 am

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by jmmercy »

Hi.

Having the same problem on real hardware, posted comment on previous post. I am testing and will revert back with data.

Regards.
jmmercy
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:55 am

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by jmmercy »

Hi.

Wiped disk clean and install went fine. Any way way to do a finer diagnostics ?

Regards.
Haos
Test Team
Posts: 2954
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:42 am
Contact:

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by Haos »

Its possible that freeldr didnt like the MBR already located on that HDD. For any diagnostics you`d need to set up a debug output via serial ports and null modem cable. So it would require another PC and both would need to be equipped with serial ports.
jmmercy
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:55 am

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by jmmercy »

Haos wrote:Its possible that freeldr didnt like the MBR already located on that HDD. For any diagnostics you`d need to set up a debug output via serial ports and null modem cable. So it would require another PC and both would need to be equipped with serial ports.
Hi.

Actually, the first step for me was to reinstall the mbr, through Lilo though. This did not change anything.
Only a full wipe with 'dd' was the cure. I am happy to report that the real pc booted fine even if I have some
problems with usb keyboard and mouse not working. The network is working nicely and dhcp'd properly. It
is very flaky though and will hang entirely sometimes. Installed firefox but java failed both automatic install
and manual without any explanation. Is it useful to give all exact info about the machine ? I can dedicate it to
tests, I have plenty ...

Regards
mightyken
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:04 pm

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by mightyken »

Check your HD jumper to set as the primary HD. If not, switch the jumper appropriately. Then, try reboot the PC again.
BIOS says HD is primary master.
CDROM is secondary master.

MightKen.
Haos
Test Team
Posts: 2954
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:42 am
Contact:

Re: Installation won't boot

Post by Haos »

If you want to get into hardware testing of ReactOS, you shoud have a null modem cable for debugging, as well as building ReactOS yourself, as it really helps with debugging or slipstreaming drivers.
mightyken
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:04 pm

Re: Installation won't boot SOLVED

Post by mightyken »

Problem solved. I used Darik's Boot and Nuke to completely zero the hard drive.

MightyKen.
hto
Developer
Posts: 2193
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:43 pm

Post by hto »

This must be solved in ReactOS, too, so will not occur to somebody again.
jmmercy
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:55 am

Re:

Post by jmmercy »

hto wrote:This must be solved in ReactOS, too, so will not occur to somebody again.
Sorry mightyken for hijacking your thread I got carried away for having the exact same problem. I
solved it pretty much the same way, only with another tool. For diagnostics, I do have enough
computers and serial links. I can set up again a Linux drive with grub to create the same conditions
for failure if it can help and get the output.

Regards.
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