FreeBSD didn't install, i can no longer boot into Windows

diesel_travis · 03-22-2004, 06:05 PM

I unsuccessfully installed FreeBSD and I can no longer boot into an OS from the HD. I attempted to install BSD onto the "G" drive below however the the install gave me some kind of storage error and I can no longer boot into Windows. While going through the BSD installation process I opted to NOT install a boot manager (I incorrectly assumed that this would leave my existing boot manager intact).

Here's how I was partitioned pre-FreeBSD (these are all partitions on the same SATA 80GB drive):
C:\ Windows ME
D:\ Windows XP sp1a
E:\ Windows XP-64 beta
F:\ Longhorn 64 preview
[G]:\ unpartitioned 4GB
[F]:\ uformatted 4GB
H:\ NTFS Storage
I:\ FAT32 Storage

Before I attempted to install BSD, I used c:\boot.ini as my boot manager.

Now when I try to boot it says:

Code:

Invalid Partition
Invalid Partition
No /boot/loader

FreeBSD/i386 boot
Default: 0:ad(0,a)/kernel
boot:
Invalid Partition
No /kernel

FreeBSD/i386 boot
Default: 0:ad(0,a)/kernel
boot: _

Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? If so how can I reenable booting into Windows?

Specs:
MSI K8T Neo-FIS2R v1.2
Athlon 64 3200+
1GB (2x512) PC3500 GeIL Golden Dragon 2-3-3-6@1T (Memtest 86+: 12+ cycles/0 errors)
Enermax CS-3188TA-S3A
Super Flower SF-550SS:3.3v@35a|5v@50a|12v@30a
Sapphire ATI 9600XT 256MB
LG 8x DVD±/CD R/RW (IDE1 Master)
Seagate 7200.7 SATA 80GB (VIA)

subgenius · 03-22-2004, 07:00 PM

If you have a Windows 98 boot disk, booting it then running "fdisk /mbr" should work.
Various boot disks can be downloaded from www.bootdisk.com.

Or you could boot your Windows XP installation CD, select repair, then run "fixboot".

diesel_travis · 03-22-2004, 10:50 PM

Thanks for your help! The short solution of how I fixed it was that I re-installed ME onto the C: drive.

The long and tedious explanation I've written up here: http://travis.servebeer.com/blog.net...ot_sector.aspx

comp12345 · 03-25-2004, 02:10 PM

If I remember correctly, FreeBSD will only install on primary partitions. Your G drive is almost certainly a logical drive. This would cause the install to fail.

diesel_travis · 03-25-2004, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comp12345
If I remember correctly, FreeBSD will only install on primary partitions. Your G drive is almost certainly a logical drive. This would cause the install to fail.

ah ha! interesting, do NetBSD or OpenBSD require to be installed on a primary partition as well?

h1tman · 03-28-2004, 05:27 PM

yay, i mite install freebsd or obsd soon. but they dont have driver for my modem.