Install from .iso Fails

[Thomas D. Dean]

On 9/1/19 5:54 PM, MJ wrote:
> Hi Tom,
> 
> [I cropped a lot of this message - it's needless detail]
> 
>> I killed all the bsdinstall stuff before I answered any of the 
>> questions.  As soon as the first install box appeared, I switched to 
>> ttyv3(?) where root was logged in.  Before selecting keyboard model.
>>
> 
> It's still risky. Who knows what it has started writing out. If you have 
> to do this, I suggest just rebooting and restarting the installation 
> rather than re-starting via the console.

Does bsdinstall start writing BEFORE the keyboard model is selected? 
Before the device is selected?

Is this documented in the handbook?  I did not see it.

> 
> 
>> I use grub at the console to choose the system to boot and I login at 
>> a console prompt.  In my .bash_profile, I startx.  I use TWM because 
>> it is least intrusive.  I use emacs in an xterm for development.
>>
> 
> Not an unremarkable situation, I would think.
> 
>> I have a multi-os system.
>> sata6g_1  HD0 SSD    ubuntu 18.04
>> sata6g_2  HD1 WD5000 Ubuntu 18.04
>> sata3g_3  HD2 WD5000 windows 7 - not used
> 
> (the last best windows IMHO)

There was no last best windows.  I replaced the windoze before
  WNT (== ++VMS) with BSD386 0.1.

> 
>> sata3g_4  HD3 WD5000 empty - this is where I tried to install FreeBSD
>> sata3g_5  HD4 WD5000 windows 7 secondary plex- not used
>> sata3g_6  DVD DRW-24B3LT
>> sata6g_E1 (empty)
>> sata6g_E2 (empty)
>>
>> After starting bsdinstall on ttyv3(?), I chose the automatic layout.
> 
> That should work. I dare say many others use that format. I would 
> encourage you to use manual layout and so expand your knowledge of why 
> different partitions should be made (like /var and /usr) as separate 
> partitions. It really doesn't take all that long, considering you were 
> attempting to install using the ftp option. (I remember having to map 
> cylinders/heads/sectors to boundaries back in ye olde days of FreeBSD, 
> so it's got easier.. somewhat.)
> 
>>
>> OK, that does not seem to be a reasonable way to go.
>>
>> I will download the DVD set.  Is it possible that I get reasonable USB 
>> 3.0 support from the full DVD rather than the net install?
> 
> If you haven't used BSD for a while it seems the prudent thing to do.
> 
>> What do I need to do to avoid scribbling on sata6g_1  HD0?  That 
>> contains grub.
> 
> Don't install a boot manager when it asks. Leave it to Grub. (Not having 
> used Grub for a long time, I expect you need to edit Grub to find the 
> new disk with FreeBSD on it?)

update-grub
> 
> Regards,
> Mark