After install, computer does not boot.
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Hi all. First time posting here. I've used PfSense a bit through the LiveCD and configured the settings through the web interface. When I went to install, it seems like the install failed half way through. So I went back and re-installed PfSense again. When I reboot my computer, it just sits at the bios screen (my computer logo screen) and does not boot.
If I take out the hard drive, it recognizes it's not there and attempts to boot through the CD drive. However, as long as the drive is in the computer it does not boot into anything.
This is the second drive after (what I thought) the first one happened to fail because it was five years old. This is the second time I've installed PfSense and had this happen to me. The drive is brand new. I'm assuming I'm doing something wrong, but I did follow the install instructions through both times.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
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-I can't get into the BIOS until I disconnect the hard drive.
-I disabled the OEM screen from appearing. when the drive is connected, it now shows BIOS-related messages. Instead of enabling the drive, it seems like all 4 default devices become a "Generic USB Reader" instead of the CD Drive, Hard Drive, DVD Drive, and USB.
-This happened with an older drive, too. The drive that's in the computer is brand new and I've ran into this same problem.
-This only happened when installing PfSense. I've never ran into this problem installing Linux distributions.
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If you haven't already done so I suggest you try a snapshot build of pfSense 1.2.3. Some people have found it works on hardware that previous versions didn't work on. Download from http://snapshots.pfsense.org/FreeBSD_RELENG_7_2/pfSense_RELENG_1_2/livecd_installer/, unzip, burn to CD and try booting and install.
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I am using that build, still doesn't work. Also, I can't boot up using a CD unless the drive is unplugged from the motherboard. And even if I plug it in while the CD is running the system won't detect it. I think I'm SOL for a 2nd time.
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If I take out the hard drive, it recognizes it's not there and attempts to boot through the CD drive. However, as long as the drive is in the computer it does not boot into anything.
Sounds as if your hard drive doesn't have a 'bootable partition'. Its a while since I've done an install so I may not remember the exact form of the options. Did you install a boot loader (GRUB or FreeBSD)? I've only used the FreeBSD boot loader and have seen a number of reports that suggest the GRUB and pfSense combination is broken.
Also, I can't boot up using a CD unless the drive is unplugged from the motherboard. And even if I plug it in while the CD is running the system won't detect it. I think I'm SOL for a 2nd time.
Drive boot order is a BIOS option. I've installed pfSense on 4 very different computers and have not seen pfSense do anything to the drive boot order. If the BIOS drive boot order says boot from CD first then it should boot from CD (provided the CD is bootable) regardless of whether or not a hard drive is present in the system. Most PCs I have come across do NOT support 'hot plug' of drives on the motherboard. But then one of your posts mentions USB so maybe your CD drive and hard drive are USB devices, in which case my remark about boot order won't necessarily apply.
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Correct, but the BIOS is entirely inaccessible unless the hard drive is unplugged from the motherboard. It was a FreeBSD install..I've installed OS's many many times and have never had a problem like this before. I can only access the BIOS when the drive is unplugged, so therefore it doesn't even detect a hard drive when I'm in it. Then again, this is an eMachine, and I've always had weird problems with them but none like this before.
Rundown of what happens.
Hard Drive in the motherboard:
Turns On -> Brand Logo Appears and sits there eternally regardless of what buttons I press.
Hard Drive unplugged from motherboard
Turns On -> Brand Logo Appears -> Warns me no hard drive is present -> Boots to CD (boots to network if no CD)
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A hard disk might contain an OS (bbotable or not), could be empty, broke - you even might hook up an AS400 (or whatever) formatted drive in PC as a boot drive.
The BIOS should always give you the option of entering in its setup on boot.
If not, it looks like the drive is fouling up (physical) the IDE/SATA interface: a very good indication that de drive is plain broke. -
You've most likely got a problem with either the IDE cable or the drive. Try replacing them both.
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i had same problem once, then i disabled the USB and USB Legacy in BIOS then pfsense can work again :)
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I would try replacing the cable (PATA/SATA) cable, Make sure the HD is configured in the bios and can be seen in the bios. I had a similiar issue where the computer would not auto-detect the HD. I set it up in the bios manually and it worked like a charm. It ran for 3 months. Then I replaced the firewall with a virtual one. No issues since.
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I turned off USB and still no luck. This is the SECOND drive this has happened to. I've installed Linux a bunch of times and never had this happen..I don't know what to do. This drive is brand new because I thought the other happened to die on me. I can't dump money into PfSense any more I'll probably go another route.
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When you select 'install to the hard drive' what option are don't manually configure the hard drive. Use the default setting. Unless you know how to configure the hard drive. It can cause some issues booting.
Trying installing and selecting all defaults. You can always use the M0n0Wall installation guide for the HD installation part. I just can't remember where to find the installation guide.
RC
