[ale] Boot failed

[danlambert at bellsouth.net]

Because of problems I've experienced in the past with some BIOS versions not liking to cooperate when using multiple boot devices, I've been using  only the CD drive (usually configured as the first boot device, and then the drive I prefer (IDE or SATA) as the second boot device. 

You may require a net boot option, so that would be listed as a third boot device, but I only enable the minimum number of boot devices, and virtually never enable the floppy as one of them. 

I am of the opinion that I can always go back into the BIOS setup and change to add an additional device or change their priorities if required, but it's better to minimize the number of boot devices in the list. 

Dan Lambert

> 
> From: "John Wells" <jb at sourceillustrated.com>
> Date: 2006/02/10 Fri AM 09:33:13 EST
> To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" <ale at ale.org>
> CC: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" <ale at ale.org>
> Subject: Re: [ale] Boot failed
> 
> Raylynn Knight said:
> > This is most likely your problem.  I'll bet the BIOS is trying to boot
> > from one of the SCSI drives.
> 
> You might be right. It's booting now, but not in the way I'd suspect it
> to. However, the addition of the SATA drives not long ago is likely to be
> causing the problem...I gotta wonder if it's a firmware issue. None of the
> upgrades on their site mention it, but still.
> 
> The boot sequence, before I started having problems, was:
> 
> 1: CD-ROM
> 2: Floppy
> 3: IDE
> 4: Network
> 
> While troubleshooting the current issue, I switched it to:
> 
> 1: CD-ROM
> 2: Floppy
> 3: IDE
> 4: SATA
> 
> So, early this morning after reading your email, I switched it to:
> 
> 1: CD-ROM
> 2: Floppy
> 3: IDE
> 4: Disabled
> 
> Saved, and upon booting the bios prompted me for which device I'd like to
> boot (strangely enough). Chose the IDE, and lo and behold it booted up.
> So, for curiosity, I immediately rebooted....
> 
> "Boot failed"
> 
> Went into the bios, and for gits and shiggles I moved the floppy down in
> the sequence:
> 
> 1: CD-ROM
> 2: IDE
> 3: Floppy
> 4: Network
> 
> Now, so far (after about 4 tries before having to leave for work), it's
> booting consistently.
> 
> I've never had a problem out of this mb, but up until a month ago I was
> only running IDE drives. Now I'm running IDEs and SATAs concurrently.
> 
> Very strange.
> 
> If it continues to boot in it's current configuration, I'm happy. It's
> just frustrating to not know the root cause, although I'm betting on a
> flaky BIOS.
> 
> Thanks for all the help guys!
> 
> John