On Thu, Nov 03, 2005 at 04:56:34PM -0500, daniel wrote:
> I'm unable to use floppyC38.fs to boot my laptop.
> It is a Dell latitude CPx J650GT with bios A16
> I've tried different floppy disks with the same results.
> I've tried floppyC38.fs from 3.8 release
> I've tried floppyC38.fs from snapshots date 11/2/05
> Using the exact same floppy i can boot my pc just fine.
> Any ideas on what i need to do to get this laptop going?
>
>
> Loading;..........
> probing: pc0 com0 com1 apm mem[639K 510M a20=on]
> disk: fd0 hd0+*
> >> OpenBSD/i386 BOOT 2.10
> boot>
> booting fd0a:/bsd: 3306020+195116=0x356d74
> entry point at 0x100120
>
> complete freeze at this point, can't hit the caps lock button
> I only got this once. All other times have been as follows.
>
>
> Loading;..........
> probing: pc0 com0 com1 apm mem[639K 510M a20=on]
> disk: fd0 hd0+*
> >> OpenBSD/i386 BOOT 2.10
> boot>
> booting fd0a:/bsd: 3306020read text
> failed(0). will try /obsd
> boot>
> booting fd0a:/obsd: open fd0a:/obsd: No such file or directory
> failed(2). will try /bsd.old
It's always possible there is some weird kernel bug around, but I
remember seeing that when trying to boot with a defective floppy drive.
I.e., the floppy *drive* was shot. I binned quite a lot of floppies
before finally binning the drive. It was only 1-2 years old. I put in an
oldie (no clue just how old, scavenged it from a Pentium I system or
somesuch), and it booted just fine.
Of course, trying other floppies first might be cheaper...
If you already have OpenBSD on there, just get a new bsd.rd and boot
that - it's much easier.
Joachim
