Start up issues 2

[tryinghard]

I have been trying for 2 days to reinstall a Solaris 8 system. Each time I load the 3 CD's (I do an OEM install - webstart method) it returns an error that reads

/dev/bootrc not round (as best I can remember)

I have reformatted my drives (a 30G WD), I have installed WIN98 and that works. But I am a lose as to the problem.

I have started the system with the diskette configuration and with the bootable install CD. Everything proceeds fine throughout the entire process but I get the above error after the final CD is removed and the system reboots.

Any suggestions or other info can I provide to get suggestions please let me know.

THX

 

[cfsalmeida]

Solaris 8 intel can be harder to install in dual boot environments if isn't installed in primary partition, also you can try the installation without Webstart (boot from cd 1 of 2), Webstart is very bogus in Intel hardware, from your error message it seems that solaris can't find boot partition (Solaris creates a 10MB partition), that contains the boot block and Solaris boot manager.

Hope this helps,
Regards,

Carlos Almeida,

 

[Hobbes]

I'm assuming that the error message is /dev/bootrc not "Found", rather than "Round"... ('cause if the CD ain't round, I think I found your problem...)
It seems that you may be removing the cd before it should be... The timing, from what i remember is rather tricky...
I will send the protocol that i followed just last week to do an install once I find it... It has all the little tidbits and tricks as far as timing the media removal and stuff...

 

[TryinHard]

Hobbes,

Yes - My Cd's are still round

But your assessment of the problem seems ot be right on. I dl'd the latest build of Solaris last night and got he same problem. Here is the EXACT error I get

boot: source : open of '/etc/bootrc' failed


Thanks for the help and look forward to getting the procedure from you.

RB

 

[cfsalmeida]

boot: source: open of '/etc/bootrc' failed, message has nothing to do with ('cause if the CD ain't round') ... this
message comes from "ufsboot" the secondary boot program, saying that cannot open boot code information...
however this message can appears in different situations:

1. when during the ISA devices scanning, there are IRQ's conflicts, ie serial port and PCI 3Com 3C595.
2. with some HP vectras PC and onboard 7880 scsi.
3. If there are no unassigned IRQ values usable by the 3C509B.
4. With some old bios versions on some Gateway Pcs.
5. With some reserved addresses in ISA network cards
6. During a plain Generic Os Net image installation in IBM intellistation.
7. With some IBM IDE large hard disks > 8.6 GB
8. In Vectra PC with adaptec 2940U with old firmware revision.
9. if boot code (ufsboot) is located more than 1 Gig from the start of the drive.
... and possible more not listed ...
Check for IRQ conflicts between Network card and other devices, also if you are installing in extended partition , try in primary partition, also your hard disk is larger than 8.4GB this is okay to Solaris 8, but you can also try installing in a Solaris partition <= 8.4GB, or just for checking (if you have a old disk around) try install in a different disk. my guess is the &quot;problem&quot; is your disk or your network adapter.

Regards,

Carlos Almeida,

 

[tryinghard]

Thanks all for the respones. I still have no solution yet. The HD might be the problem so I did a low-level format (using the Western Digital software) and tried reinstalling. I get the same not found error.

It is funny becase I have had SOlaris 8 installed on this drive before. (Guess I shouldn't have delelted it to try Windoze out).

Since the install process seems to go all the way through (i.e. I foolw the webstart instructuons all the way through to the point it says to reboot) - is there anything I can do to force a boot and get past this error? A bootable floppy?

RHB


p.s. cfsalmeida - your assessment seems very accurate - thx

 

[Hobbes]

With all this talk about the boot issues, did you blow away the MBR (master boot)? If not, give it a whirl. It may help. Also, check out what Carlos had suggested. It very well could be an IRQ issue. Did you through any new hardware in when you decided to give Windows a try? If so, try pulling it, and see if the problem is fixed. (I'm still digging around for my install instructions, there buried in here somewhere...)

Hobbes

 

[tryinghard]

All,

Thanks again for the responses. AS far as I know I have done an MBR several times. The funny thing is that I can install windose on here without any problems. Solaris is just a bit more picky.

Regarding IRQ problems - without the hel pof a GUI like in Win98 et all, I do not know how to identify IRQ problems (esp since I have no OS on the drives right now). No new hardward has been added since Solaris was up and running before.

BTW - another post to this forum said that the 7/01 build of Solaris 8 would be out today. Just my luck. I DL'd the 3 iso's from Sun (04/01) not more than 5 days ago. If they are indeed on the web at Sun tonight - maybe this will solve my problem (ie a new version). I doubt it thought - I cant even get the version of 06/00 that I ordered and had previously installe to work.


I'll you all know
RHB

PS - If it ever works - I hope I know what I did different to get it to work.

 

[cfsalmeida]

Do you install Solaris in primary partition or in extended partition ? Also if possible list your intel hardware.

Kind Regards,

Carlos Almeida,

 

[cfsalmeida]

if you want to try boot from disk go to the link below, download the boot image, use the dd.exe file at the second link to create the diskette, then you'll be able to use the boot disk to go through the config menus and reach the bootloader, which will load your install off the hard drive.

http://soldc.sun.com/support/drivers/dca_diskettes/

http://soldc.sun.com/support/drivers/tools/

Regards,

Carlos Almeida

 

[tryinghard]

Thanks for all the replies. I was never able to get Solaris back onto my harddrive. But - interestingly - Redhat 7.1 went onto the same drive without a hitch (first try).

beats me. When I get an extra dollar I'm going to get another HD and see if that doesnt help.


Any more suggestions - please let me know.


RHB

 

[stevea]

I know there is a SunAlert on the SPARC side of installation on drives larger than 9.1 GB and OBP 2.X...check sunsolve.sun.com