cannot create bootable compact flash

kpachopoulos · 12-24-2006, 09:41 AM

I am trying to build a flash-based ipcop router. I have followed the instuctions, but with both the image i have downloaded from linitx.org and the image i have created (.img files) the compact flash does not boot. I have tried to install a minimum Debian system for testing too, but the process fails on the partitioning stage. The (very strange) output of the partitioning table (fdisk presents) is the following:

Code:

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/hda: 255 MB, 255983616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 31 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1            2089        4207    17010127   83  Linux
Partition 1 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
     phys=(2, 3, 1) logical=(2088, 179, 11)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
     phys=(30, 254, 63) logical=(4206, 93, 12)
/dev/hda2            2089        4178    16777472    0  Empty
Partition 2 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(2088, 178, 11)
Partition 2 has different physical/logical endings:
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(4177, 101, 20)
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/hda3            2089        4178    16777472    0  Empty
Partition 3 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(2088, 178, 11)
Partition 3 has different physical/logical endings:
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(4177, 101, 20)
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/hda4            2089        4178    16777472    0  Empty
Partition 4 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(2088, 178, 11)
Partition 4 has different physical/logical endings:
     phys=(2, 2, 0) logical=(4177, 101, 20)
Partition 4 does not end on cylinder boundary.

What's wrong with the compact flash or the process?
Thanks

dinolinux · 12-25-2006, 04:46 AM

Hi

This looks like a messed up partition table. I think the best way to fix it would be to initialize a new partition table from fdisk. Unfortunately it will delete all data from the flash.

kpachopoulos · 12-25-2006, 12:31 PM

Thanks dinolinux,
i used a different flash-to-ide adapter and the first time i entered cfdisk, i was asked if i wanted to initialize (or create an empty one or something) the partition table!

For future reference, i have searched for the way someone can delete/initialize a partition table (manually), but i didn't find anything useful. I suspect the extra functionality of fdisk could be useful, but i have no spare disk. Can you point me to a link or give me a hint?

Thanks

dinolinux · 12-26-2006, 06:15 AM

In fdisk, use the command o.

Sorry for taking so long to reply, my system needed reinstalling...