BIOS configuration


 
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Operating Systems Linux Ubuntu BIOS configuration
# 1  
Old 06-09-2016
BIOS configuration

I have a problem with a brand new Dell laptop. BioLinux was installed on it without making the necessary changes on BIOS. The installation was completed successfully but the BIOS system cant find the OS after rebooting the machine.
I have tried to modify the BIOS setting with no luck this far. I was hoping someone here could guide me through the process
Thanks in advance
# 2  
Old 06-09-2016
What, precisely, have you tried?

We'll need more information on your laptop than "brand new". Model would help.
# 3  
Old 06-09-2016
This is the laptop I am referring to:

Dell Inspiron 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i3 - 6GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive Black I3558-9136BLK - Best Buy

I tried to modify the booting order so it can recognize the OS. However, I cannot see Biolinux listed despite of completing the installation successfully.

Last edited by Xterra; 06-09-2016 at 05:47 PM..
# 4  
Old 06-09-2016
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xterra
I tried to modify the booting order so it can recognize the OS. However, I cannot see Biolinux listed despite of completing the installation successfully.
This can have a lot of reasons and we have to start somewhere: You probably can boot from some CD/DVD/USB-Stick. Do that, open a command window and type parted /dev/sda, then press "p" (for "print") to list the partition table. The picture you see shoud be similar to this one:

Code:
Model: ATA ST500LT012-1DG14 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  3146kB  2097kB  primary
 2      3146kB  2151MB  2147MB  primary  ext3         boot
 3      2151MB  500GB   498GB   primary               lvm

Notice there is a 2G boot-partititon formatted as ext3. Only the rest is LVM-controlled. Linux can't boot from LVM-partitions (yet). If your layout looks very different then post it here.

I hipe this helps.

bakunin
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# 5  
Old 06-10-2016
Hi.

Here is output from fdisk within a Bio-Linux system:
Code:
$ fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 104.9 GB, 104857600000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12748 cylinders, total 204800000 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000830ae

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *        2048   200605695   100301824   83  Linux
/dev/sda2       200607742   204797951     2095105    5  Extended
/dev/sda5       200607744   204797951     2095104   82  Linux swap / Solaris

On a Virtual Machine run within virtualbox:
Code:
OS, ker|rel, machine: Linux, 3.13.0-63-generic, x86_64
Distribution        : Bio-Linux (8; Ubuntu 14.04.2)

However, I have not used Bio-Linux sufficiently to be able to provide help much beyond this. Regrettably, I also seem to have misplaced my install notes.

I suggest you be more precise about ... cant find the OS after rebooting the machine by providing the exact message(s) you see when trying to boot.

Good luck ... cheers, drl
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# 6  
Old 06-14-2016
Guys
This is what I am getting when booting from a bootable USB stick (biolinux):

Code:
$ parted /dev/sda print

Model: ATA ST1000LM024 HN-M (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt

Number  Start   End    Size    File system    Name   Flags
 1      1049kB  538MB  537MB   fat32                 boot
 2      538kB   994MB  993MB   ext4         
 3      994MB   1000GB 6348GB  linux-swap(v1)

Code:
$ fdisk -l

Warning: GPT (GUID Parttition Table) detected on '/dev/sda/'! The util fdisk doesn
't support GPT. Use GNU Parted

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 10000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 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: 0xf6552963

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1  1953525167   976762583+  ee  GPT
Parttition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary

Disk /dev/sdb: 15.5 GB, 15479597056 bytes
32 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14996 cylinders, total 30233588 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x010a5806

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *          63    30231935    15115936+   b  W95 FAT32

- Post updated 06-14-16 at 10:06 PM -

Solved the problem disabling the boot security and enabling legacy. Finally, I rearranged the boot sequence to 1) USB 2) HDD and proceeded to reinstall Biolinux. Worked like a charm!

Last edited by Xterra; 06-13-2016 at 11:45 PM..
# 7  
Old 06-15-2016
There are several points to discuss:

Some BIOSes (i don't know if your Dell system is among them) are "configured" to need a Windows-partition as the first one. Actually a colleague fo mine had such a system and it took us some time to figure out what was wrong. Therefore the following might lead to an (from disk) unbootable laptop. Continue only if you have some "rescue disk" or something such. Usually there is some disk where you can recreate the factory setup, wiping out everything you wrote to the disk. If you have such a disk, TEST IT to know it works, only then continue because what i suggest you do is potentially disruptive. You test your plan B to work before even attempt to execute plan A.

In a normal case, where the above is not the case, your partition tale looks like there is a leftover from the probably factory-installed Windows. Run parted to remove all these partitions. Once the disk is completely clean reboot and start the installation of your distro. It should contain provisions for partitioning the disk.

If you need to partition by hand (or want to use the "expert mode" many installation routines offer for more control), here is a short guide to partitioning:

Start with a primary partition mounted on "/boot" as the first one of the type "ext3". It needs only 1GB (perhaps not even that much, 128MB should be sufficient), because in the installed system only the kernel image to boot and some GRUB-configuration files will be there. Even if you have several different kernel images to select from: they become hardly bigger than 1-2 MB apiece. Historically Linux could not boot from partitions located on disk cylinders 1023 and above, so out of habit i put this partition always at the very front. Because it won't change over time this is a very good place anyway. "ext3" is because Linux cannot boot from LVM-controlled logical partitions. This partition will also get the "boot" flag.

Then create a LVM partition (type "ext4") using the rest of the disk. We will do everything further within this partition.

The following "logical volumes" will be created inside the LVM partition and are not partitions in their own right. I will tell you the names (=mountpoints) and sizes and give you a short explanation for each.

<swap> size=your amount of RAM
Whenever the main memory of the system is exhausted some disk space previously set aside is used to emulate memory. This is called "swap" or "paging" space and you should see it like the jerry can of your car: it will be good to be there if you once in a while need it but do not rely on it and under no circumstance count that among the usable amount of gas you have. Your normal operation should not need any swap and if it does you do not need a bigger swap, you need more RAM.

/ size ~ 20GB
This is for your system. It is good style to separate application and system, so this will only hold the operating system, not the applications.

/altroot size ~ 20GB
I like always have a second OS installation in reserve, in case i manage to destroy one. This is for this second system. "/" and "/altroot" will reciprocally mount each other (if "/altroot" boots as "/", it will mount what is "/" normally as "/altroot") and everything else at the same place.

/home size ??
This is for your data. I'd start with as little as possible, because it is easier to grow this FS than it is to diminish it. Note that /home is for your personal data. If you have application data you should perhaps create a separate filesystem for it and use that.

Other FS you might need depend on what you want to do with your system. If you have a certain application i'd create 2 filesystems (at least) for it: one for the application binaries, its configuration and other files needed to run it. Another FS for its data. This way you can update your application while having the data unmounted and hence save from accidental manipulation.

Some general remarks: you should always try to be as flexible as possible. This means especially to give logical volumes the least possible amount of space. This way you have the most diskspace available to still distribute where necessary. If you need more you can always increase a particular FS in size.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
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