Recent FreeBSD install not booting after install

Anthony_B_Russo10

Anthony_B_Russo10

Hello,

I recently installed FreeBSD to a HP Compaq nx7400 and it does not boot and says there is no /boot/loader and no /boot/kernel/kernel . I found similar issues of this, but none of them have outputs that match exactly to what I get. The output I get every time I boot FreeBSD is as follows:

Code: 
error 1 lba 968099840
error 1 lba 968099840
error 1 lba 968099840
No /boot/loader

FreeBSD/x86 boot
Default: 0:ad(0,a)/boot/kernel/kernel
boot:
error 1 lba 968099840
No /boot/kernel/kernel

FreeBSD/x86 boot
Default: 0:ad(0,a)/boot/kernel/kernel
boot:

The partition structure of the computer's drive is as follows after using gpart show:

Code: 
=>         0  976773168  ada0  BSD  (466G)
           0  968884224     1  freebsd-ufs  (462G)
  968884224     7888944     2  freebsd-swap  (3.8G)

=>         0  976773168  diskid/DISK-S2WRMQ0Y  BSD  (466G)
           0  968884224                     1  freebsd-ufs  (462G)
  968884224     7888944                     2  freebsd-swap  (3.8G)

I have also reinstalling FreeBSD multiple times to try and fix this issue, but it always gave the same error I got above.
 
I reinstalled FreeBSD using a MBR install, and got the same result except with the error lines being different. They now all say:
Code: 
error 1 lba 968099904
instead of:
Code: 
error 1 lba 968099840

I know MRB is on the drive as gpart show now shows:
Code: 
=>        63  976773105  ada0  MBR  (466G)
          63          1        - free -  (512B)
          64  976773104     1  freebsd  [active]  (3.8G)

=>         0  976773104  ada0s1  BSD  (466G)
           0  968884224     1  freebsd-ufs  (462G)
   968884224    7888880     2  freebsd-swap  (3.8G)

Along with their associated diskid and usfid sections.
 
Reinstall the system again and when asked what partitioning scheme to use choose GPT. It is the most modern of them all.

If you use GPT and encounter problems, there will be plenty of people who can help. On the other hand, if you use BSD disklabels, the number of people who know how to deal with those has been declining.

The error message "error 1 lba 968099840" might be a symptom of a problem with that computer's HDD, e.g. having bad sectors.

EDIT: The boot(8) man page in its Diagnostics section gives an alternative explanation for the error. Perhaps using a big disk from modern times with a very old laptop is causing a compatibility problem. Try tinkering with disk-related BIOS settings and/or installing the system such that a very small root partition is used. The very small root partition (1–2 GB in size) should help make the system bootable, and the rest of the data will be on a second partition.
 
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