5.4 bootonly.iso hangs on boot

**MarkAshley** · 07-11-2005

I've got a Toshiba Satellite P10-873 with the following spec:

P4 3.2GHz HyperThreading
512Mb DDR
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 Pro
60GB HDD
Synaptics Touchpad
Lots more I can't think of right now

I've never used BSD before and want to install it over my Linux partition to try it out. I've downloaded and burned the 5.4 bootonly.iso but can't get it to boot. I get the menu with the ASCII daemon and let the countdown time out, but then it hangs when it tries to boot the kernel.

I've tried the ACPI Off and Safe Mode options but the same thing happens. I don't have an option in my BIOS to turn off ACPI, but I can turn off HyperThreading (though I haven't tried this yet). Would this make a difference? Or is there something else I've overlooked?

I have verified that the CD is ok by booting it under VMWare and it boots to the installer fine.

Many thanks
Mark

**sarumont** · 07-11-2005

Have you verified that the CD boots on another machine? Also, what output do you get when you select the kernel?

**MarkAshley** · 07-11-2005

Hi sarumont

Before posting I tested the disc under VMWare and it booted fine. After your reply I tested in my company laptop (a Dell) and it also booted fine. So it would appear to be some kind of incompatiblility with my laptop. I have tried disabling HyperThreading in the BIOS but this made no difference.

I don't get any output from the kernel. After selecting the option in the menu (Normal, ACPI off or safe mode) I get a little spinning star which then stops spinning after a second or two leaving a "|" on the screen and a flashing cursor underneath it. Other than the flashing cursor the machine is then frozen. Caps lock doesn't even work on the keyboard. I can't ctrl-alt-del, I have to hold the power button in to power off.

**junkman4547** · 07-12-2005

Sounds like the processor was caught in an endless loop.

The FreeBSD handbook only mentions something about updating the BIOS if encounters installation problem. Then it says do it at your own risk ....

**MarkAshley** · 07-12-2005

Originally Posted by junkman4547

Sounds like the processor was caught in an endless loop.

Really? Why would that happen?

Originally Posted by junkman4547

The FreeBSD handbook only mentions something about updating the BIOS if encounters installation problem. Then it says do it at your own risk ....

I've just done this as my BIOS was a bit out of date. Still no boot

**junkman4547** · 07-13-2005

From my own experiences, when I do a conditional call to a sub routine at a wrong address....

.....the process can not return to the process that calls it. If I'm lucky the program crashes, if not it would be sent to the infinite loop and hang.

I did a quick search into your problem and that's the only thing the handbook mentions. Sorry.

**lordnothing** · 07-13-2005

there are known problems with 5.x and hyperthreading.. disable it in the bios and try again.

**MarkAshley** · 07-13-2005

I've just tried disabling Hyperthreading in the BIOS and it make no difference. Does 4.11 have these problems? Is it still stable/compatible enough to use? Any idea if it will support the major features of my laptop (i.e. ACPI)

Thanks
Mark

**junkman4547** · 07-14-2005

There's a complete Handbook at FreeBsd website you might want to check out. It covers the Boot Process section that mine doesn't.

**MarkAshley** · 07-14-2005

Thanks for the info, sadly the section on the handbook you mentioned did not provide an information that helped me to solve this problem. I guess it's back to Linux for me!

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