Re: Compaq Contura Aero and 2.6

From: Jim (james_at_the-computer-shop.co.uk)
Date: 06/06/05


Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 12:27:26 GMT

Asbjørn Sloth Tønnesen wrote:
> Is there any one who have got 2.6 running succesfully on the Aero?
>
> [...]
> hda: 38154MB, CHS=4864/255/63
> hda: hda1[EZ1] hda2[EZ2]
> [...]
> VFS: Cannot open root device "hda3" or unknown-block(3,3)
> Please append a correct "root=" boot option
> Kernel Panic - not syncin: VFS: unable to mount root fs on
> unknown-block(3,3)
>
> I has based my 2.6 config[1], on Uli's 2.4.23 config[2]. The kernel is
> 2.6.11.11 patched with the BadMEM patch (2.6.11)
>
> Quote from Uli's homepage[3]
>
>>For the harddisk it was recommended for me to choose the "Enhanced
>>IDE/MFM/RLL disk/cdrom/tape/floppy support". The "Old disk only driver
>>on primary interface" didn't work for me. I also had to check the
>>"Include IDE/ATA-2 DISK support" to make the kernel see my 6 GB
>>harddisk - otherwise it saw only the first partitions.
>
>
> I have tried both. It didn't work.
>
> Any ideas how to ignore the EZ-drive BIOS? I haven't been able to find
> anything on EZ-drive and 2.6, so I don't know if it is a general problem
> with EZ-drive.
>
> My Aero:
> Compaq Contura Aero 4/33C
> 33 mhz
> 20 mb ram
> 40 gb hdd
> Avaya 802.11b card
>
> [1] http://asbjorn.it/junk/aero-config
> [2] http://www.ulihansen.kicks-ass.net/aero/linux/config
> [3] http://www.ulihansen.kicks-ass.net/aero/linux/kernel.htm#configuring
>
> --
> Best Regards
> Asbjørn Sloth Tønnesen
>

 From DuxCW.com:

The answer applies to many recent motherboards... You do not need, and
should not use the floppy that came with the hard disk for the recent
motherboards (unless you are going to use EZ to copy stuff from an old
drive to the new one). Disconnect the CD-ROM from the motherboard and
power until the hard disk is detected. Pull all boards except video.
Reload defaults in the CMOS Setup to get rid of all of settings that
have been attempted. That should set the CMOS to Auto for the drive,
which is the correct setting. The motherboard should detect the drive
if everything is working, the drive is jumpered correctly, and the
cables are installed properly. Smartdrive should be enabled in the CMOS
Setup (the default is disabled), but the drive will work fine if it
isn’t. Western Digital drives should not be jumpered for Master unless
another drive is attached to the same cable as a slave. Remove the
jumper altogether or put it in the default position, the one it was in
when the drive was new. That position should be marked on the top of the
drive and it is the position where the jumper is horizontal when the
drive is horizontal. I presume the drive is an ATA/66 (or ATA/100)
drive and you are using the ATA/66 cable that came with the motherboard.
That cable has an end that is marked “System,” or something like that.
It goes (must go) to the motherboard IDE1 interface with the Blue (may
be red) stripe towards Pin 1. The other end (the far end, marked
“Master,” or something like that, not the connector in between the two
ends) must be attached to the drive with stripe towards the power
connector. If the drive is not an ATA/66 drive, the ATA/66 cable will
work if connected as just prescribed. Make sure both ends of the cable
are fully seated. And, of course, the power connector must be fully
seated. Check the pins on it to be sure one isn’t pushed out. If you
can hear the drive spin-up, power is probably OK. If the drive still
does not work, you could have a bad motherboard IDE interface, bad
cable, bad hard disk (most likely), or a screw of or standoff shorting
the bottom of the motherboard.

======================================================================

If that doesn't solve things, you might try a DDO such as DiscWizard
(available for drive-specific download at www.ontrack.com). The generic
DiscWizard software is payware; the free version is good for IBM/Hitachi
Deskstars, Travelstars, Seagates, and Maxtors (not sure on Western
Digital). If you have any of these drives already present in your
system, the workaround goes thusly:
        1. Disable drive detection for the channel your new (to be formatted)
drive is on.
        2. Boot using the DiscWizard software. It should detect the new drive
if you have at least one manufacturer-specified drive present according
to the software version you downloaded.
        3. Partition and format the new drive using DiscWizard.
        4. Save and exit settings.
        5. Remove floppy and reboot.

Your new drive should now be picked up by the kernel. It worked for me
(Knoppix/Debian kernel 2.6.3) with no more issues, on a custom build
around a Via K5 chipset (Ali Aladdin V Pro board) and a 100GB Seagate
Medalist U5 drive (which the board natively couldn't even pick up)

HTH

-- 
Cheers,
Jim
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Opinions expressed in this message may or may not be representative of 
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