Hi

I tried to install "BeOS 5 PE Max Edition V3" on a Compaq Armada 7790 Notebook, but the installation from cd or floppy disk hanged allways at "sysinit2: 23". I tried all "Safe mode options" and also all BIOS options. Finally I copied the installation from a desktop computer directly to the Notebook harddisk. But BeOS still stops at "sysinit2: 23".

I was searching the net and found that other people hat problem with this notebook. But I expected to find some detailed information about the "Advanced safe mode options" or the startup process. Unfortunatelly there is/was only little information (BeOS bible update).

I'm disappointed not to find a description what BeOS is going to do/load at "sysinit2: 23" or complete description of the startup. Also a general description how to include an extra driver into the system is missing. Only some short postings like "copy there, add link". For a NewBe a really annoying experience... :-(

Does anybody has more information or links to information.

Thanks a lot.
Chris

Go to bebits and get the offical BeOS R5 personal edition. As I understand it you have an older P233. It doesn't need any of the newer drivers that Max offers. If you get PE working then use the Max disk to add on apps.

The PE does not work either, same problem...
What is "sysinit2: 23"?
Why aren't there any documents about the startup procedure and the possible "Advanced save mode options"?
An open source project without the needed documentation can't work...

Oh!

There are a few reports of that on compaqs. What I gather is that the kernel is trying to load the wrong something related to hardware. This may be caused by the bios reporting or failing to report or wrong time of reporting.

You could try all the initial things like disable plug and play.

Boot either from Dos or try booting from a Beos floppy. From Dos it sets up some stuff with bios.

Be sure to remove support for unused things like USB in bios and choose all the slowest settings. Yes slow it down.

Also at start up you can also press the spacebar and a menu will pop up for safe modes. Pick all of them and you will get a debug output but also it will try to force beos to use it's most simple setup.

Let us know. It may not work even with all that. Most laptops make a poor test bed for beos.

I have already done all of it before (BIOS, BeOS boot disk), always same result!!

I'd like to know, where about the problem comes from, that's why I ask for information on "sysinit2: 23"...

Then to get a chance avoiding this problem I need a docu about the "Advanced save mode options"...

Thanks,
clibo

You might ask the openbeos people. As far as I know that error is not documented on any public site that I have ever seen. I used to buiild and test IBM computers. There is a lot of stuff going on at boot and not a lot of companies did much to their systems other than to make Windows or Dos boot. Period! To get by patents and copyrights they reverse engineered firmware that components. Hence, Linux, Beos and other x86 OS's have trouble with some hardware. What did I say the maker did to get that product out the door?? It had to boot dos or windows and nothing else. There are a few reports of your problem on Compaq machines. No one seemed to bother to fix it. It seems that internally the kernel_intel file might be choosing wrong processor specs is all I can tell. There is a file with beos that has some info on choosing some processor dependent settings. I am not at a beos machine. If I remember I will post what might be changed. I suspect that the entire problem is with the bios or other firmware.