I now have bigger problems. I re-started the system, my intention being to try the install procedure of one of the youtube videos I saw, that used gefs. Part-way through that, I grew frustrated with the fact that the system was only using a small amount of my screen, and decided to try to back-track to use the command that fixes this. In other words, I tried to get out of inst/start. I failed. When it became clear I didn't have a clue what I was doing and it wasn't working (not hard), I did the only thing I could think of, a hard-reboot. ..that was a mistake. Well, there was a mistake somewhere. Now, when I boot.. I get to the screen where it asks me to input the password to my hard-drive.. I can't. I am using my laptop via an external keyboard, connected via usb. The keyboard does not respond. I have put in fresh batteries. Checked that it is switched on, nothing. I am using an external keyboard because the contacts of the ordinary keyboard have oxydized. This is because I did a motherboard swap a long time ago in such a way that I left the computer dissassembled for months, not realizing the effect it would have on the contacts. So, long story short, something about what I did during the install procedure (trying to exit it, then rebooting in the middle of it) killed the ability of the computer to read the keyboard. ..I can re-do my attempt to boot using another hard-drive, but I suspect the motherboard is fried.. ..I actually have another motherboard I can use, ironically enough.. now I think about it.. the one in there now is used, cheep.. Also, the hard-drive -has- had issues, it isn't new, squeeky clean.. ..I expect I'll get back to you all once I've replaced both the ssd and the motherboard.. this will take a few days..
On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM Ori Bernstein <[email protected]> wrote: > I haven't seen this before. It would be useful to see the full output, > including the suggestions. > > On Sun, 9 Nov 2025 21:39:29 -0500, Michael Jensen < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Greetings again all. > > > > I have now attempted to install 9front. On my dell latitude e7450. I > > followed the instructions at fqa.9front.org/fqa4.html. > > > > I encountered the following problems: > > > > I get as far a section 4.3.8 - prepdisk. I follow the recommendation of > > accepting the suggestion, and type w, then hit <enter> > > > > Normally, it should accept that, and I follow it up with q. > > > > Instead, I get: > > > > " > > error writing partition table to disk > > attempting to restore partitions to previous state > > cannot restore: error seeking on disk > > " > > > > It then sends me up a menu, and I get to re-specify a bunch of things. > > It gets back to approximately the same place, except this time, instead > of > > suggesting a layout, I get: > > > > "disk/prep: cannot open disk: file too small to be a disk" > > > > Continuing, I keep getting that error, even if I tell it to use esp as my > > 9fat partition. > > > > I have consulted one youtube tutorial where they use the gefs as the file > > system instead of the default in the tutorial. if that works, great. > > Thought I should report this though. > > > > Cheers! > > Mike :-) > > > > > > On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM Michael Jensen < > [email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > Greetings :-) > > > > > > ..I am currently in a deep exploration of operating systems. > > > windows->ubuntu->guix&openbsd, with many more tried en-route. now I'm > > > hearing about plan9 and oberon. So, plan9 is the bees-knees? People > > > daydream wistfully about a world where it dominates.. So.. shall we > get on > > > with it? :-) Unfortunately, I go to the wiki for instructions on > > > installing it ( > > > https://plan9.io/wiki/plan9/Installation_instructions/index.html), and > > > find: "Beware: in the manner of wikis most everywhere, this one is > > > woefully out of date. > > > < > https://plan9.io/wiki/plan9/Beware:_in_the_manner_of_wikis_most_everywhere,_this_one_is_woefully_out_of_date > .>" > > > ..this is not encouraging. In fact, it stops me in my tracks and > causes me > > > to write this e-mail instead. > > > > > > ..I currently have three computers. Dell Latitudes e7450 and e7440, > and a > > > Thinkpad T430. I am open to buying another one if there is a > particular > > > one that is recommended for plan9. I can get another > > > more-or-less-realiable T430 for ~150 can. ..I might poke around > trying to > > > follow the given instructions.. but my instinct says that I won't, not > > > without more assurance of support. > > > > > > ..You may be wondering how I heard about plan9 in the first place. > Keep > > > in mind, hearing about it and becoming convinced it's worth > investigating, > > > are two different things. I credit, in historical order, "The Art of > Unix > > > Programming", Suckless, and vis (the editor). vis are the people whose > > > documentation prodded me into seriously checking it out. (..Of > course, now > > > that I search specifically for plan9, I get plenty of hits..) > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Michael :-) > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------ > > 9fans: 9fans > > Permalink: > https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/Tf075600980be0e2b-M6b5b6515f00f915c523814ee > > Delivery options: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription > > > -- > Ori Bernstein > ------------------------------------------ 9fans: 9fans Permalink: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/Tf075600980be0e2b-Mf769ee1134cb3b263fc4118d Delivery options: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription
