Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:42:12 +0300 From: Manolis Kiagias <sonicy@otenet.gr> To: Bret Busby <bret@busby.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Question about FreeBSD installation procedure Message-ID: <4ABE4464.6000604@otenet.gr> In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0909262129230.12228@bretnewworkstation.busby.net> References: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0909262129230.12228@bretnewworkstation.busby.net>
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Bret Busby wrote: > Hello. > > I have been interested in installing FreeBSD on my laptop (HP/Compaq > NX5000, 2MB RAM), in a free 20MB partition. I really hope you meant Gb here ;) > > I noticed that the Linux Format magazine to which I subscribe, in > Issue 124, comes with FreeBSD 7.2 on the DVD. > >> From what I understand, FreeBSD (and possibly all BSD) uses hard disc >> slices rather than partitions, and therefore cannot > easily be installed in a free partition, but needs for hard disc > slices to be used. 'Slice' is FreeBSD jargon for what Windows / DOS would call a 'primary partition'. In short, FreeBSD can only be installed in your machine only if you have free space *and* the possibility to create a primary partition in it . Due to BIOS limitations, PC hardware only supports 4 primary partitions on any disk. If you already have 4 primary partitions and you are not willing to delete one, you can't install FreeBSD as it won't install on what Windows calls an "Extended partition". But let's say you have a typical laptop with two partitions for OS and data, and some free space at the end. FreeBSD will happily install there. > > Is it yet possible to install FreeBSD into a hard disc partition, > rather than needing to install into hard disc slices? > I have attached a copy of the screenshot showing the partition table; > I wanted to install FreeBSD into sda8. > > Can this be done. > > Thank you in anticipation. > The screenshot won't come through in the mailing list, if at all possible upload it somewhere and send us a link.
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