Boot disk failure on newer versions

[TonyMEdKniven]

Hi

Trying to install but having what I suspect is compatibility issues with current FreeBSD versions on this computer.

ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso - Rufus - boots
FreeNAS-11.3-U2.1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-dvd1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure
FreeNAS-9.2.1.9-RELEASE-x64.usb - win32diskimager - boots

Feels a bit shaky, going to try upgrading from 9.2 but it seems something in new versions of FreeBSD doesn't like my box at all. :-/

Any guesses on what's changed?

/best regards Tony

 

[Redcoat]

Maybe if you told us what the computer is - full hardware description - it would be possible for somebody here to give you something more than guesses...

 

[TonyMEdKniven]

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3, noname non ecc ram, not connected 4x 2TB WD RED.

I'll just go and read the release noted for everything after 9.3. There will be something about boot system changes I bet :-D

While doing that I'll also install 11.3 on a stick on another computer and maybe bypassing the issue, I don't think so since it seems FreeBSD changed the boot system in general not only for install media, in such a way my old box can't take it.

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Try giving Etcher a try. I had some issues with Mint's ISO maker and rufus. I also use gparted to delete all the partitions before writing the image to the USB thumb drive.

 

[TonyMEdKniven]

dd to disk is sort of binary copying. takes some time but for sure works.

Installed 11.3 on a usb stick, (selecting legacy not uefi) using a more modern computer. nah the old box won't boot the stick. Guess I'll install esxi on it and use it for something else. It's really obvious that FreeBSD made some changes to the boot system, linux, windows, esxi all works.

Getting another box for FreeNAS, can't really see a solution on how to get this one to work.

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

I had a bugger of a time trying to get 11.2 installed on an old PowerEdge 2940 III from the USB stick. I finally got it to work by making sure all the partitions and disk signatures were removed from the USB stick and then using Etcher to write the .iso to the thumb drive. (I didn't use that server in the end - but it ended up being a good learning experience)

 

[sretalla]

I think what you're seeing here is the difference between the GRUB and FreeBSD bootloaders... GRUB seems OK with your system, FreeBSD bootloader not.
ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso - Rufus - boots (GRUB)
FreeNAS-11.3-U2.1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-dvd1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeNAS-9.2.1.9-RELEASE-x64.usb - win32diskimager - boots (GRUB)

 

[TonyMEdKniven]

I think what you're seeing here is the difference between the GRUB and FreeBSD bootloaders... GRUB seems OK with your system, GreeBSD bootloader not.
ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso - Rufus - boots (GRUB)
FreeNAS-11.3-U2.1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-dvd1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeNAS-9.2.1.9-RELEASE-x64.usb - win32diskimager - boots (GRUB)

I think what you're seeing here is the difference between the GRUB and FreeBSD bootloaders... GRUB seems OK with your system, GreeBSD bootloader not.
ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso - Rufus - boots (GRUB)
FreeNAS-11.3-U2.1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-dvd1.iso - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeBSD-12.1-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img - win32diskimager or rufus - Disk boot failure (FreeBSD Bootloader)
FreeNAS-9.2.1.9-RELEASE-x64.usb - win32diskimager - boots (GRUB)

Yup, and a 2 hour testing on different older systems that all could install x64 linux. The ones that liked newer freebsd install media where the ones where bios actually shows what USB thing you put in. ie. older ones only allowing "USB-HDD" and such wont take it. Got a box with uefi and problem is bypassed. Was a bit annoyed since this box actually runned freebsd ~5 years ago. So the freebsd loader have changed in some ways it seems.

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

I was curious so I was hunting around and I found an article about larger USB thumb drives having a problem booting on that board. It is a really old (2011) post about Windows 7. However, it may still be relevant as the latest BIOS for that board seems to be F11 from 2010/08/12.

It notes to use a smaller USB drive - see https://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=4757.0.

 

[TonyMEdKniven]

I was curious so I was hunting around and I found an article about larger USB thumb drives having a problem booting on that board. It is a really old (2011) post about Windows 7. However, it may still be relevant as the latest BIOS for that board seems to be F11 from 2010/08/12.

It notes to use a smaller USB drive - see https://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=4757.0.

Sound similar with the execption of win10,esxi,linux all booting fine from same stick :-D Strange coz according to the link my board shouldn't boot that stick at all :-D