[syslinux] Trying to boot a SSD of 500GB

[Ady]

> Yes, I tried to dd the mbr.bin and use both --install and --stupid parameters.
> 
> The FAT32 partition is bootable.
> 
> 
> Here is what I did:
> 
> $ sudo fdisk /dev/sda -l
> 
> Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
> Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> Disk identifier: 0x00000000
> 
> Disk /dev/sda doesn't contain a valid partition table
> 
> 
> $ sudo dd bs=440 count=1 conv=notrunc if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
> 1+0 records in
> 1+0 records out
> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0,0278105 s, 15,8 kB/s
> 
> $ sudo fdisk /dev/sda
> Device contains neither a valid DOS partition table, nor Sun, SGI or
> OSF disklabel
> Building a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0x4492593f.
> Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
> After that, of course, the previous content won't be recoverable.
> 
> Warning: invalid flag 0x0000 of partition table 4 will be corrected by w(rite)
> 
> The device presents a logical sector size that is smaller than
> the physical sector size. Aligning to a physical sector (or optimal
> I/O) size boundary is recommended, or performance may be impacted.
> 
> Command (m for help): n
> Partition type:
>    p   primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
>    e   extended
> Select (default p): p
> Partition number (1-4, default 1): 1
> First sector (2048-976773167, default 2048):
> Using default value 2048
> Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G} (2048-976773167, default 976773167):
> Using default value 976773167
> 
> Command (m for help): t
> Selected partition 1
> Hex code (type L to list codes): b
> Changed system type of partition 1 to b (W95 FAT32)
> 
> Command (m for help): a
> Partition number (1-4): 1
> 
> Command (m for help): p
> 
> Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
> Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> Disk identifier: 0x4492593f
> 
>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
> /dev/sda1   *        2048   976773167   488385560    b  W95 FAT32
> 
> Command (m for help): w
> The partition table has been altered!
> 
> Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
> 
> WARNING: If you have created or modified any DOS 6.x
> partitions, please see the fdisk manual page for additional
> information.
> Syncing disks.
> 
> $ sudo mkfs.vfat -F32 /dev/sda1
> mkfs.fat 3.0.26 (2014-03-07)
> 
> *** here I mounted /dev/sda1, copyed kernel, initrd, syslinux.cfg and
> umounted ***
> 
> $ sudo syslinux -i /dev/sda1
> 
> $ sync
> $ reboot
> 
> After rebooting I get from bios: "No bootable device -- insert boot
> disk and press any key"
> 
> The BIOS has UFI, but I'm not using it (it's disabled).
> 
> But the strange is:  if I do exactly the same procedure on a flash
> disk (4GB) and then a dd from the flash disk to the sata sdd, then the
> sata SSD boots.
> 
> 
> The physical sector size of the sata ssd is 4k, but the logical is
> 512.  Could this be the problem?
> 
> Thanks
 
Yes, the 4KB sector size is most probably the problem.

Some users are able to workaround the issue by connecting the drive in 
different manners (e.g. eSATA vs. SATA vs. USB, through external 
cases...) or by using loop devices / losetup.

Some users have luck with one connection, some users succeed with a 
different connection type, and others manage to get it work with 
mounting loop devices, or by dd'ing images. Your experience might vary 
(perhaps someone else wants to provide more details, or share 
experiences).

The particular device, the particular firmware ("BIOS"), the connection 
type... All these (and more) can have an impact.

Note that syslinux.efi should have no problem with a sector size of 
4KB.

Regards,
Ady.
 
 
> _______________________________________________
> Syslinux mailing list
> Submissions to Syslinux at zytor.com
> Unsubscribe or set options at:
> http://www.zytor.com/mailman/listinfo/syslinux
>