Thank you for your reply. I think there must be a story
about all these different disk geometry reports. Knowing
will make it a bit easier to make any necessary
partitioning decisions. So, I will have to take some time
to know more about this issue. I'll report anything I
find.
On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 17:55:36 -0400
Felix Miata
johnswolter@provide.net wrote:
I just decided to give a try to GNU parted. Yep, error message, so I stopped.
Here's parted's startup message.
"Error: The partition table on /dev/hda is inconsistent. There are many reasons why this might be the case. However, the most likely reason is that Linux detected the BIOS geometry for /dev/hda incorrectly." [Bad parted]. "GNU Parted suspects the real geometry should be 4866/255/63 (not 77557/16/53)." [cyls/heads/sectors?]. "You should check with your BIOS first, as this may not be correct. You can inform LINUX by adding the documetation for mor information. If you think Parted's suggested geometry is correct, you may select Ignore to continue (and fix LINUX later). Otherwise, select Cancel (and fix LINUX and/or the BIOS now)."
Selecting Cancel...
"Information: The operating system thinks the geometry on /dev/hda is 77557/16/63. Therefore, cylinder 1024 ends at 503.999M."
I also used Partition Commander to make drive copies and got the following as geometry from its information window.
Cylinders: 4866 ....Heads: 255 ..Sectors: 63
The BIOS has multiple reports.
When set to Access Mode = Auto Cylinders: 19161 ....Heads: 16 ..Sectors: 255
Highly unlikely.
When set to Access Mode = LBA Cylinders: 4866 ....Heads: 255 ..Sectors: 63
Almost certainly.
When set to Access Mode = Large Cylinders: 1277 ....Heads: 240 ..Sectors: 255
Definitely not if there has ever been an M$ OS on it.
Interesting results. Which information is right? The real way to find out is to get out your favorite low level disk editor and see what is where. Since I have a blank target drive and I'm short of time, it's time to throw caution to the wind a see what happens.
DFSee and its author can help you get it figured out, but not for free: http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dfsee-support
It's worth the money, the only thing I ever partition with. -- "Never tire of doing what is right." 2 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV
Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409
Felix Miata *** http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/partitioningindex.html