Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Wed, 3 Jan 1996 09:47:17 GMT
From:      Steve Gailey <steveg@hplona90.uksr.hp.com>
Message-ID:  <9601030947.AA22193@hplona90.uksr.hp.com>

next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
   
>   I have a few older (read: ancient!) Compaq systems I'd like to
>put FBSD on.  Unfortunately, Compaq (in their infinite wisdom -- NOT!)
>have fixed disk parameter tables in their BIOS.  So, regardless of
>the size of the (IDE) disk I might install, I am limited to
>whatever geometry Compaq has chosen to support.
>   I'd like to cut a new set of EPROMs with an altered disk table
>but the POST screams about bad checksums.  Anyone have a clue as
>to the algorithm employed and the location of the checksum image
>(before I start disassembling code)?

Just after the bios id AA55<size> is a checksum which is a checksum of all
the following bios. If you alter the bios, you must calculate a new checksum.

This is how the system ensures that the bios is not dammaged.

Steve Gailey
steveg@metrosol.demon.co.uk



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?9601030947.AA22193>