Bug#394963: Don't install grub/lilo on MBR
Some servers don't accept strange MBR modifications. Sometimes it is compilations server+some systems (xp for example). I suggest: 1. clear first disk sectors (boot some linux live, dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/some_disk_device usually hda or sda) 2. install XP with this own partitions. DON'T USE DYNAMIC PARTITION! (feature in windows server systems that allow create software raidmirror for windows) 3. after installation, boot XP and create all partitions for linux. you shuldn't initiate or format ths partition. 4. begin installation. select EXPERT mode, help is on the screen. don't create partitions, only change partition types, assign to format and assign to mountpoints. make sure, linux boot partition is active, and windows is inactive. Change this attributes if nesessary. 4a. usually after partition modification before reboot, i run fdisk (not cfdisk other, only the simplest fdisk), look to partition types. If it is nesessary, i correct it to properly partition types, this is usually linux linux swap. 4b. you should't create swap partition. you can use swap as file over linux partition. t degrade a bit performance, but make partition table simpler. sometimes it is very recommended, specially when you use only one hard drive. 5. when you install grub or lilo, DON'T USE MBR that is default behavior. Use linux boot partition for grub or lilo. You can simply specify linux boot partition, /dev/hdaX (X number partition) or (hd0,X). Be sure, (hd0,X) X begin from 0, but /dev/hdaX X begin from 1. 6. continue installation process. For time saving, use as simplest installation as possible. Select only base text install, without graphics, window enviroments (withiut gnome, kde others) and without additional servers. You can install it later. In aptitute it is tasks, last directory in package menu. 7. after installation be sure, that linux boot properly. 8. add to lilo or grub windows boot menu. you have help in /etc/lilo.conf (other file system) or /boot/grub/ some file, but I don't remember what do exactly. 9. after grub config modification do nothing, after lilo.conf type lilo 10. try again boot linux. 11. try boot XP. This should boot, whithout active flag over his partition. 12. look out after active flag modification. when windows change this flag, under disk management tools (under windows) correct active flag to linux partition that should be presented as unknown isn't assigned to any disk drive letter. This method guard against geometry incompatibilities, unsupported MBR modfications made by lilo, grub or other boot managers like this. -- Grzegorz Szyszło Departament Informatyki NOBLE Bank S.A. Lublin, tel. (81)532-77-20 w.240 , kom.607-940-478
Bug#417673: This is Microsoft problem
vfat was introduced by Microsoft, with buggy implementation. I tryed to test this fs. When I have written 4GB file (exactly 4GB minus 1 byte! because this FS support only this in directory structure - 4 bytes file length), this was okay. next i booted winxp and run disk check. this cause, all 4GB files was reduced to 0 (zero) bytes. But blocks in FAT are not released. Then I run checkdisk under win98. this repair files and rewrite size to 4GB minus 1 byte. I think this is problem with windowsNT vfat support and based on it. linux kernel should support winNT or different older win9x behavior. It is strange, but winxp allow writing and other operations with 4GB (minus 1 byte) on vfat fs. I think it is internal fsck problem, but microsoft as usual says this is not a bug, this is FEATURE. For protection this bug, I prefer ext2/ext3 ofer XP usung, or NTFS-ng3 on linux. I think vfat is usable only for files to 2GB length (minus 1 byte). Larger files cause problems. -- Grzegorz Szyszło Departament Informatyki NOBLE Bank S.A. Lublin, tel. (81)532-77-20 w.240 , kom.607-940-478
Bug#394963: installation: Problems with dual booting Dell D600
I think its problem with compatibility with windows and linux partman. don't forget, windows server can use dynamic disc, that is not compatible with anything. desktop versions of windows can use this type of partitions, after bit modification in 4 system files. Second think, this can be problem with geometry interpretation. I have bad experiences when I partition disk with different tools from different systems. I suggest rather to create all needed partitions under windows, then under debian installer only change types and re-format that partitions, and assign to mountpoints. It allways works me. I notice, microsoft has problems with this own products. There are some incompatibilities between windowsXP and windows9x partitioning tools. -- Grzegorz Szyszło
Bug#406483: After base install computer hang
Package: installation-reports Version: etch Severity: critical This report is about current (see email date) floppy installation. I make 4 installation etch diskettes. All processess after flopy boot works ok, hard drive is detected properly, partitioning, detect network ok, getting packages from network ok, preparing filesystems and base installs ok. When is time to reboot after base install, i do it. After boot system properly boot kernel and initrd, and hang. Last kernel message is detect IDE devices and CD drive. Then system wait for nothing. I can do alt+ctrl+del to reboot, and situation repeat again. I tryed install, removed all proposed IDE drivers. This not solve my problem. Installation with sarge/floppy works ok. after reboot system properly continue booting and load processess to finalize install. After minimal floppy/net install, i can properly upgrade sarge to eth and continue installation other packages. With eth/floppy install I have other problems. I cant select pc-style keyboard, this process fails. Next, I cant select lilo as bootloader. Only grub is selectable. In sarge/floppy I don't have that problems. I allways select i686 kernel without SMP, to prevent SMP problems. System specification: Server Compaq ML370 (without G1,2,3 signature) Two processors PentiumIII FSB 133MHz, first 933MHz and second 633MHz (for tests, i removed second processor) Memory, two modules 128MB (summary 256MB) 133MHz with ECC Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller with useable for cache 56MB RAM (8MB uses controller firmware) 6 scsi hard drives 9GB 10k RPM, configured as one logical volume, presented to system as one physical drive /dev/ida/c0d0 , that has standard parition table with nodes /dev/ida/c0d0p1 /dev/ida/c0d0p2 etc... this is suported by kernel module cpqarray. network card supported by kernel module e100 . Now I'm getting first weekly cd image of etch. I'll try do install with this medium. -- System Information: Debian Release: 3.1 Architecture: i386 (i686) Kernel: Linux 2.6.8-3-686 Locale: LANG=pl_PL, LC_CTYPE=pl_PL (charmap=ISO-8859-2) -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
