Mailing List Archive

install cd won't boot
I've been trying to make a boot CD from the 9/6/2014 iso. I tried more
than than one iso, from different mirrors, using different computers,
and different programs. The result was always something about block 0
is not a valid boot block.
So, I tried isomarkboot from Gentoo. No luck.
Then I booted an old Debian (5.0 lenny) installation and used their
isomarkboot. I just entered isomarkboot file.iso boot/bootlx. This
time, it did start to boot. It died with kernel stack not valid and
three chevrons.
I'm out of CD-Rs.

I always figured it was my terrible IDE chip. However, I have a Gentoo
CD I marked 5/5/2013 that boots perfectly. So, I have to conclude that
my hardware can function.
I don't imagine that the aboot package has changed recently. I don't
know. My hard drives are SCSI and aboot works for them. I never tried
isomarkboot before.
I left out any initrd parameters when I tried the Debian isomarkboot.
There are initrd parameters passed to the kernels in the aboot.conf file
on the CD, but I don't know what isomarkboot needs.

I assume the boot CD kernels work.
The man page says I can use a loop device or an image file. The
question is:
What is the proper syntax for running isomarkboot to make a Gentoo
install CD? Anything tricky?

Note: I ran the sha512sum on one iso file and eyballed the result. It
was right.
The next iso will probably be out soon. My spindle of CD-Rs should
arrive soon too, ha ha. I'll keep trying.

Adios, DW
Re: install cd won't boot [ In reply to ]
I filed a bug report on isomarkboot.

Meanwhile, I resorted to a cheat:
Booted debian lenny
mounted non-booting gentoo image using loop device
made a new image with genisofs -alpha-boot boot/bootlx ...
wrote new image to a CD using wodim and rebooted
Voila, it works.

I wish I had the knowledge to actually fix isomarkboot. It's not
exactly a crisis, at least.

Adios, DW
Re: install cd won't boot [ In reply to ]
Oops, a typo
>made a new image with genisofs -alpha-boot boot/bootlx ...

I meant genisoimage.
Re: install cd won't boot [ In reply to ]
On 10/07/14 16:32, Don Wilburn wrote:
> Oops, a typo
>>made a new image with genisofs -alpha-boot boot/bootlx ...
>
> I meant genisoimage.
>

I'm doing my investigation in the bug:
https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=524060

Thanks for the genisoimage idea, could be a workaround...