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* [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
@ 2012-02-17 20:47 Grant
  2012-02-17 20:59 ` James Broadhead
                   ` (3 more replies)
  0 siblings, 4 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: Grant @ 2012-02-17 20:47 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: Gentoo mailing list

LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
come back to:

Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:

Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.

- Grant



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-17 20:47 [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do? Grant
@ 2012-02-17 20:59 ` James Broadhead
  2012-02-17 22:26 ` imacake/LK
                   ` (2 subsequent siblings)
  3 siblings, 0 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: James Broadhead @ 2012-02-17 20:59 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On 17 February 2012 20:47, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
> come back to:
>
> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
>
> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.

This worked for me moderately well recently:
 http://superuser.com/questions/1078/harddrive-in-the-freezer-ever-work-for-you

... in that I was able to get enough files off it to putter along
until I could restore from backups.



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-17 20:47 [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do? Grant
  2012-02-17 20:59 ` James Broadhead
@ 2012-02-17 22:26 ` imacake/LK
  2012-02-18  0:19   ` Grant
  2012-02-18  2:50 ` Willie Matthews
  2012-02-18  7:06 ` Paul Hartman
  3 siblings, 1 reply; 12+ messages in thread
From: imacake/LK @ 2012-02-17 22:26 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 12:47:36PM -0800, Grant wrote:
> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
> come back to:
> 
> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
> 
> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.

Diskette is not HDD

A: looks too much windows-like. old system you said.. so OK.



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-17 22:26 ` imacake/LK
@ 2012-02-18  0:19   ` Grant
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: Grant @ 2012-02-18  0:19 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

>> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
>> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
>> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
>> come back to:
>>
>> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
>>
>> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
>> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.
>
> Diskette is not HDD
>
> A: looks too much windows-like. old system you said.. so OK.

I think the BIOS can't find a HD at all so it's trying to boot from
the floppy drive which does not contain a floppy disk.

- Grant



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-17 20:47 [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do? Grant
  2012-02-17 20:59 ` James Broadhead
  2012-02-17 22:26 ` imacake/LK
@ 2012-02-18  2:50 ` Willie Matthews
  2012-02-18  7:06 ` Paul Hartman
  3 siblings, 0 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: Willie Matthews @ 2012-02-18  2:50 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:47:36 -0800
Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:

> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
> come back to:
> 
> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
> 
> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.
> 
> - Grant
> 

It could be the boot sector of the drive that is bad. You should boot
off a live CD and see how far you can get with the drive. If you can
read it with no problem reinstall grub and see how it does with the
boot afterwards.

-- 

Willie Matthews
matthews.willie@gmail.com



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-17 20:47 [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do? Grant
                   ` (2 preceding siblings ...)
  2012-02-18  2:50 ` Willie Matthews
@ 2012-02-18  7:06 ` Paul Hartman
  2012-02-18 18:30   ` Grant
  3 siblings, 1 reply; 12+ messages in thread
From: Paul Hartman @ 2012-02-18  7:06 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 2:47 PM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
> come back to:
>
> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
>
> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.

Things I would try:

Go into BIOS and make sure settings are still proper (sometimes it can
get wiped out and set to bad values)

Make sure BIOS can see the HDD manufacturer and model number etc.

If not, power off, re-seat the HDD cables and try again

If yes, boot from liveCD and use your favorite tools to examine the drive

If the drive is visible, partition table in-tact, then I would try to
chroot into your gentoo and reinstall your boot loader like in the
installation handbook

If drive is not visible, take it out and hook it up to another computer

If other computer can read it, maybe your motherboard/controller got
fried somehow

If other computer can't read it either... buy a new HDD and restore
from your most recent backup ;)



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-18  7:06 ` Paul Hartman
@ 2012-02-18 18:30   ` Grant
  2012-02-23 21:29     ` Grant
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 12+ messages in thread
From: Grant @ 2012-02-18 18:30 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

>> LOL.  Except not really.  Am I totally screwed or is there some
>> little-known method for kick-starting an apparently dead HD?
>> Everything was fine until it was rebooted.  Multiple reboots always
>> come back to:
>>
>> Invalid Boot diskette- Enter BOOT diskette into A:
>>
>> Cracks about how if the system is old enough to have a floppy drive
>> then it's overdue for a dead HD are appropriate.
>
> Things I would try:
>
> Go into BIOS and make sure settings are still proper (sometimes it can
> get wiped out and set to bad values)
>
> Make sure BIOS can see the HDD manufacturer and model number etc.
>
> If not, power off, re-seat the HDD cables and try again
>
> If yes, boot from liveCD and use your favorite tools to examine the drive
>
> If the drive is visible, partition table in-tact, then I would try to
> chroot into your gentoo and reinstall your boot loader like in the
> installation handbook
>
> If drive is not visible, take it out and hook it up to another computer
>
> If other computer can read it, maybe your motherboard/controller got
> fried somehow
>
> If other computer can't read it either... buy a new HDD and restore
> from your most recent backup ;)

Thank you everyone.  The system is remote so I will give this a try
ASAP.  BTW, this happened due to someone pushing the power button
during an eclean operation.

- Grant



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-18 18:30   ` Grant
@ 2012-02-23 21:29     ` Grant
  2012-02-24 20:55       ` James Broadhead
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 12+ messages in thread
From: Grant @ 2012-02-23 21:29 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

[snip]
>> Things I would try:
>>
>> Go into BIOS and make sure settings are still proper (sometimes it can
>> get wiped out and set to bad values)
>>
>> Make sure BIOS can see the HDD manufacturer and model number etc.
>>
>> If not, power off, re-seat the HDD cables and try again
>>
>> If yes, boot from liveCD and use your favorite tools to examine the drive
>>
>> If the drive is visible, partition table in-tact, then I would try to
>> chroot into your gentoo and reinstall your boot loader like in the
>> installation handbook
>>
>> If drive is not visible, take it out and hook it up to another computer
>>
>> If other computer can read it, maybe your motherboard/controller got
>> fried somehow
>>
>> If other computer can't read it either... buy a new HDD and restore
>> from your most recent backup ;)
>
> Thank you everyone.  The system is remote so I will give this a try
> ASAP.  BTW, this happened due to someone pushing the power button
> during an eclean operation.
>
> - Grant

I'm amazed but disconnecting and reconnecting the IDE and power cable
fixed it.  Which is your favorite tool for testing a HD's integrity
with and without S.M.A.R.T. support?

- Grant



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-23 21:29     ` Grant
@ 2012-02-24 20:55       ` James Broadhead
  2012-02-24 21:09         ` Alan McKinnon
  2012-02-26  5:14         ` Grant
  0 siblings, 2 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: James Broadhead @ 2012-02-24 20:55 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On 23 February 2012 21:29, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> [snip]
>
> I'm amazed but disconnecting and reconnecting the IDE and power cable
> fixed it.  Which is your favorite tool for testing a HD's integrity
> with and without S.M.A.R.T. support?

[I] gnome-extra/gsmartcontrol [1]
     Available versions:  (~)0.8.6 {debug}
     Installed versions:  0.8.6(16:47:27 13/02/12)(-debug)
     Homepage:            http://gsmartcontrol.berlios.de/
     Description:         Graphical user interface for smartctl

[1] "sunrise" /var/lib/layman/sunrise

Is a great (and sorely needed) frontend for smartmontools - it even
colours lines in red when they indicate imminent failure!

Make sure that you have read the Google paper before trusting SMART
too far though -- they found (among other things) that it only
accurately predicts failure in 50% of cases.



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-24 20:55       ` James Broadhead
@ 2012-02-24 21:09         ` Alan McKinnon
  2012-02-26  5:14         ` Grant
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: Alan McKinnon @ 2012-02-24 21:09 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:55:21 +0000
James Broadhead <jamesbroadhead@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 23 February 2012 21:29, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> > [snip]
> >
> > I'm amazed but disconnecting and reconnecting the IDE and power
> > cable fixed it.  Which is your favorite tool for testing a HD's
> > integrity with and without S.M.A.R.T. support?
> 
> [I] gnome-extra/gsmartcontrol [1]
>      Available versions:  (~)0.8.6 {debug}
>      Installed versions:  0.8.6(16:47:27 13/02/12)(-debug)
>      Homepage:            http://gsmartcontrol.berlios.de/
>      Description:         Graphical user interface for smartctl
> 
> [1] "sunrise" /var/lib/layman/sunrise
> 
> Is a great (and sorely needed) frontend for smartmontools - it even
> colours lines in red when they indicate imminent failure!
> 
> Make sure that you have read the Google paper before trusting SMART
> too far though -- they found (among other things) that it only
> accurately predicts failure in 50% of cases.
> 

That's a fair trade in my book, seeing as without it I could 
manage to accurately predict failure in 0% of cases.

Now to get the managers to understand that it's 50%, not 100% and stop
the endless whinging when SAN drives fail without prior SMART alerts

While on the topic, has anyone heard of research into false positives
wrt S.M.A.R.T?

-- 
Alan McKinnnon
alan.mckinnon@gmail.com




^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-24 20:55       ` James Broadhead
  2012-02-24 21:09         ` Alan McKinnon
@ 2012-02-26  5:14         ` Grant
  2012-02-26 15:10           ` Volker Armin Hemmann
  1 sibling, 1 reply; 12+ messages in thread
From: Grant @ 2012-02-26  5:14 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

>> [snip]
>>
>> I'm amazed but disconnecting and reconnecting the IDE and power cable
>> fixed it.  Which is your favorite tool for testing a HD's integrity
>> with and without S.M.A.R.T. support?
>
> [I] gnome-extra/gsmartcontrol [1]
>     Available versions:  (~)0.8.6 {debug}
>     Installed versions:  0.8.6(16:47:27 13/02/12)(-debug)
>     Homepage:            http://gsmartcontrol.berlios.de/
>     Description:         Graphical user interface for smartctl
>
> [1] "sunrise" /var/lib/layman/sunrise
>
> Is a great (and sorely needed) frontend for smartmontools - it even
> colours lines in red when they indicate imminent failure!

That sounds good but I shy away from GUI tools.  How does everyone go
about using smartctl for monitoring?  Maybe just 'smartctl -a
/dev/sda' emailed daily?

- Grant



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do?
  2012-02-26  5:14         ` Grant
@ 2012-02-26 15:10           ` Volker Armin Hemmann
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 12+ messages in thread
From: Volker Armin Hemmann @ 2012-02-26 15:10 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

Am Samstag, 25. Februar 2012, 21:14:21 schrieb Grant:
> >> [snip]
> >> 
> >> I'm amazed but disconnecting and reconnecting the IDE and power cable
> >> fixed it.  Which is your favorite tool for testing a HD's integrity
> >> with and without S.M.A.R.T. support?
> > 
> > [I] gnome-extra/gsmartcontrol [1]
> >     Available versions:  (~)0.8.6 {debug}
> >     Installed versions:  0.8.6(16:47:27 13/02/12)(-debug)
> >     Homepage:            http://gsmartcontrol.berlios.de/
> >     Description:         Graphical user interface for smartctl
> > 
> > [1] "sunrise" /var/lib/layman/sunrise
> > 
> > Is a great (and sorely needed) frontend for smartmontools - it even
> > colours lines in red when they indicate imminent failure!
> 
> That sounds good but I shy away from GUI tools.  How does everyone go
> about using smartctl for monitoring?  Maybe just 'smartctl -a
> /dev/sda' emailed daily?
> 
> - Grant

cat /etc/smartd.conf

/dev/sdb -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sdc -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sdd -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sde -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sdf -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sdg -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)
/dev/sdh -m root@localhost -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../../4/17|L/../(01|
15)/./20)


postfix dumps all those mails into my mailbox

-- 
#163933




^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 12+ messages in thread

end of thread, other threads:[~2012-02-26 15:12 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 12+ messages (download: mbox.gz follow: Atom feed
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2012-02-17 20:47 [gentoo-user] "Invalid boot diskette" what do I do? Grant
2012-02-17 20:59 ` James Broadhead
2012-02-17 22:26 ` imacake/LK
2012-02-18  0:19   ` Grant
2012-02-18  2:50 ` Willie Matthews
2012-02-18  7:06 ` Paul Hartman
2012-02-18 18:30   ` Grant
2012-02-23 21:29     ` Grant
2012-02-24 20:55       ` James Broadhead
2012-02-24 21:09         ` Alan McKinnon
2012-02-26  5:14         ` Grant
2012-02-26 15:10           ` Volker Armin Hemmann

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