🚀 go-pugleaf

In message <53h3uc$fi5@cpcug.org> - kbennett@cpcug.org (Keith Bennett) writes:
:>
:>I am trying to install OS/2 2.1 on the first and only primary
:>partition of a 1.3 GB HD.  The PC is an IBM Pentium 90.  The drive
:>has Boot Manager as its first partition, then a primary partition of
:>400 MB, and 2 logical partitions.
:>
:>We have tried to simplify and automate the installation procedure as
:>much as possible, because it is being done on many machines, and by
:>people without intimate knowledge of OS/2.
:>
:>In the past we have installed our system on smaller hard drives
:>(about 300 MB), configured with only one partition.  Because our
:>newer systems' drives are larger, we want to set them up with
:>multiple partitions.
:>
:>This is the general installation procedure we've done in the past:
:>
:> Partition the disk.
:> Format the drive(s).
:> Copy contents of tape or Syquest cartridge to C:

---- important step needs to be added here - see below ----

:> Reboot.
:>
:>This worked fine with our Dell machines.  This may be because the
:>tape/cartridge contains a copy of drive C: on a Dell PC with OS/2 and
:>all our additional stuff installed.
:>
:>I realize that restoring onto an IBM the contents of a Dell is not a
:>recommended way of installing the OS.  I have expressed this to my
:>client.  However, because it would take a long time to reconstruct
:>our drive with all the additions, configurations, and modifications
:>we have mode to the base OS installation, they have chosen to
:>continue using this method if at all possible.
:>
:>Anyway, here's what happens after I try the procedure: The system
:>boots and just hangs with the cursor blinking in the upper left
:>corner of the screen.  Even when I boot from diskettes and make the
:>Boot Manager startable, it doesn't start up, but hangs in the same
:>place.  
:>
:>What could be happening that would explain this behavior?  I thought
:>that Boot Manager would at least come up even if drive C: was not
:>bootable.
:>
:>Thanks for any help you can offer.  (And sorry for the long message.)
:>
:>- Keith
:>-- 
:>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
:>Keith Bennett                             Bennett Business Solutions, Inc.
:>Silver Spring, MD USA                     OS/2 & DOS Software Development
:>kbennett@cpcug.org                        (301) 871-7696


Since you are restoring onto a newly formatted drive, you have to initialize
the OS/2 boot records, as most back/restore programs only back up files (and
hopefully, extended attributes), and NOT the boot sector.

With DOS, you would do "SYS C:" to have DOS copy its critical boot and system
files to the partition.  In OS/2, the Command is "SYSINSTX C:".  You will need
to boot from the OS/2 install floppies/CD-ROM, change to the directory/floppy
that contains SYSINSTX (Disk 2, I believe) and issue the Command.  If you have
formatted the partition as HPFS, you will also need the UHPFS.DLL file.  This
is NOT always in the same directory/floppy as SYSINSTX, so you may have to
copy them to a common directory not on the partition you are "initializing".
(Way to go, IBM!)