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Josh Grosse wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:20081023165609.M23076@jggimi.homeip.net"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:26:03 -0600, Michael wrote
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I have been trying to install 4.4 on a previous 4.3 partition, but keep
getting this message after installation:
installboot: broken MBR
And then when booting from the hd, all I get is: ERR M
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
ERR M is produced by biosboot(8) (the Partition Boot Record, or PBR) when it
cannot locate the second stage bootloader. This means that:
1. The BIOS found the MBR program on disk.
2. The MBR successfully found the PBR (biosboot)
3. The PBR failed to find a the second stage boot loader program, by
default stored on the root partition as /boot. This is the program that
issues the "boot>" prompt, and loads the BSD kernel.
This problem can be caused by failing to run installboot(8), or failing to run
it properly. It may also happen if you move or erase the second stage boot
loader (/boot, usually).
If you used the install or update script to get to 4.4, then installboot
should have been properly executed. If afterwards, you rm'ed /boot or moved
the file, this might be why you're seeing the problem. Other possibilities
include copying or relocating the OpenBSD data from one drive to another or to
a different location. Any time the LBA (sector number) of /boot is changed,
installboot must be rerun.
No matter the reason, it is repairable.
To repair (assumes the hard drive is wd0, change as appropriate):
Step 1) Boot 4.4 installation media, select the shell at the
Install/Upgrade/Shell prompt.
Step 2) Mount your "a" partition as /mnt:
# mount /dev/wd0a /mnt
Step 3) Ensure the second stage boot loader is stored in /mnt/boot:
# cp -p /usr/mdec/boot /mnt/boot
Step 4) Rerun installboot, installing a new biosboot that points to /mnt/boot:
# /usr/mdec/installboot -v /mnt/boot /usr/mdec/biosboot wd0
Step 5) Remove the install media, and issue:
# reboot
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">btw- would it help if I rejoined misc and sent this to them also?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
You should rejoin misc@, but for keeping up with the social and technical
aspects of the project. I think we can get you through this technical hurdle
here on the newbies list. :)
</pre>
</blockquote>
Thanks Josh. It worked "kinda" ;)<br>
I printed your directions and followed them exactly, but after running
step 4, I got the same "installboot: broken MBR" problem. I went ahead
and rebooted the hd to make sure, and sure enough, I got the ERR M. <br>
I might get in trouble here, but I thought to myself that if 4.3
installs fine, why not try your directions with the 4.3 cd.<br>
I did, and 4.4 now boots perfectly.<br>
Guess my copy of 4.4 may be bad? Everything else seems to have
installed just fine.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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