freenas install crisis

[expataoz]

hi
being a complete newbie and a dunce i installed freenas to the hdd and not usb, the install which i left alone, failed completely, getting stuck at numerous different places.
I can't find a way to reinstall or repair or format disc to factory and start again, is there some way to fix this mess up and start again?
i know its my fault but it was my first try and i didn't have a clue and had a what can go wrong attitude, it seems like a lot can wrong, anyway if anyone has any ideas i'd appeciate them, btw i can get to the grub command line but don't know what to do after that
thanks
dave

 

[BigDave]

Assuming you know which disk you mistakenly installed the OS on, remove it to another machine and zero the drive out,
and then re-install the disk to your pool. This time, follow the manual , step by step, for the FreeNAS version you wish to install.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road...
On second thought, zero out ALL the drives!

 

[Glorious1]

I can confirm that a lot can go wrong! Suggest you start over from very beginning and follow manual carefully.

 

[expataoz]

Assuming you know which disk you mistakenly installed the OS on, remove it to another machine and zero the drive out,
and then re-install the disk to your pool. This time, follow the manual , step by step, for the FreeNAS version you wish to install.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road...
On second thought, zero out ALL the drives!

i know which drive because thank god its the only one, i'm very ignorant to this and over my head, do i move it to a windows machine and zero out, i'm sorry i don't know how to do that, will definitely follow manual if i can just get back to square one, it completely ignores usb if i try to boot from there

 

[BigDave]

do i move it to a windows machine

Yes!
Searching Google in regards to this process, if this turns out to be too difficult,
perhaps FreeNAS is not for you.
Since only one drive is involved, it should be fairly simple...

 

[expataoz]

Yes!
Searching Google in regards to this process, if this turns out to be too difficult,
perhaps FreeNAS is not for you.
Since only one drive is involved, it should be fairly simple...

maybe its not for me but i tried, i've googled all afternoon but searches keep returning me to the assumption i can access drive, the install messed up completely, probably because i formatted the drive in zfs, i cab't find a program that wipes zfs from windows, was wonderting if i disconnect the drive and install freenas on a usb the connect the hdd maybe wipe it from there, i can't find my way back to the consol with factory reset options, but even if its not for i'd like to save drive and keep learning, i did something stupid but whats learning if you don't make mistakes, i don't want to let it beat me

 

[BigDave]

I don't want it to beat you either.
What kind of drive is it (Brand and Model please)?

 

[expataoz]

I don't want it to beat you either.
What kind of drive is it (Brand and Model please)?

cheers, its a seagate desktop, 3tb, serial no SNW500899Z i found a program just d/ling it now not many seeders, parted magic says it has limited zfs functionality but that might be a starter, if i can get back to square one i'll install it line by line next

 

[Bidule0hm]

It can be formatted to ZFS, NTFS, Ext3, UFS, ... you don't care, just wipe it with some software (use your favorite search engine and type this for example --> wipe drive windows). You may have to format it under your favorite OS for the wiping software to work (again, search engine --> format drive windows) ;)

 

[expataoz]

It can be formatted to ZFS, NTFS, Ext3, UFS, ... you don't care, just wipe it with some software (use your favorite search engine and type this for example --> wipe drive windows). You may have to format it under your favorite OS for the wiping software to work (again, search engine --> format drive windows) ;)

ok thats my project for tonight, hoping this parted magic works, will leave you alone and get back tomorrow with progress fingers crossed, thanks for your help, i appreciate it

 

[Glorious1]

I'm not clear why he needs to wipe that drive. He could even install with that drive disconnected, couldn't he? Seems like the main thing is he has to learn how to install FreeNAS and control his BIOS.

 

[BigDave]

Seems like the main thing is he has to learn how to install FreeNAS and control his BIOS.

Without a doubt, but I did not want him to run into problems with the possibility of FreeNAS "seeing" that
drive as something other than availible storage once he was able to install to the boot drive. You may be
right about that, but I was not sure, therefore the recommendation to wipe it and eliminate the possibility
of more frustration...

 

[Glorious1]

You're right - if he doesn't do everything just right, the machine is likely to think that is a boot drive and never get off the ground.

 

[BigDave]

You're right - if he doesn't do everything just right, the machine is likely to think that is a boot drive and never get off the ground.

That's what I was afraid of, and given his level of frustration and experience, it may have caused him to give up entirely.
I was once where he is now, and not really that long ago. I learned very quickly in here that if you are not the RTFM type,
you better prepare yourself to get bloody. lol

 

[expataoz]

I'm not clear why he needs to wipe that drive. He could even install with that drive disconnected, couldn't he? Seems like the main thing is he has to learn how to install FreeNAS and control his BIOS.

it won't let me do a fresh install, its caught in a broken loop, if you mean control the bios by changing boot options i've tried that over and over just can't fresh install but if theres other bios options i'm missing please tell, the broken installation over rides everything
ok i get your point i'll try that, will i be able to format the drive then back to normal and start afresh, like i say i completely new to this but i understand your reasoning, will give it a try

 

[expataoz]

i haven't given up by any means, i'll get it in the end but that is what is happening it thinks its the boot drive and over rides any boot settings i set and overides booting from disc or usb, thats why i want it wiped, start again

 

[BigDave]

i haven't given up by any means, i'll get it in the end

attaboy!!!!
@expataoz
As far as your bios are concerned, you're going to adjust your boot order as follows:
Boot Option 1 - CD/DVD drive first
Boot Option 2 - USB flash drive ( this is the drive FreeNAS will install on, and run from )
Disable ALL other options from here down
Adjust your SATA storage configuration to use AHCI for all ports ( you don't want RAID here )
Save your bios and exit!
At this point, follow the steps from the manual to create a CD install method,
for the version of FreeNAS you are going to use.
Caution: If you are wanting to use the latest version ( 9.3 ), make sure your hardware meets
or exceeds minimum standards which are mentioned in the manual

 

[Bidule0hm]

"over rides any boot settings i set" I can't see how this would be possible.

First thing first: do a search on boot order, read some docs on this subject, understand them, and only then go to your BIOS and edit the boot order to have only your USB drive in the list ;)

 

[BigDave]

"over rides any boot settings i set" I can't see how this would be possible.

As I am a "class A" screw up, I can tell you what I've done in the past.
It does not matter what else is plugged into the USB ports, or if there is a disc in the optical drive,
if the bios does not detect boot code on that device, it goes to the next device in the boot order, No?

 

[Bidule0hm]

Yes, this is maybe possible (on low-end hardware I should add :p), but if you only put your USB drive in the boot list?

Edit: no in fact this is the desired behaviour. I was talking about this case: the bios does detect boot code on that device, but it goes to the next device in the boot order anyway which is the translated version of: "what is happening it thinks its the boot drive and over rides any boot settings i set and overides booting from disc or usb".