Not booting on 512MB CF

netphreak

I have been running embedded on CF for many years. No problems what so ever, up to version 1.2.3-Release. I realize this image is quite different from earlier releases - but now it won't boot on my hardware no matter what bios settings I use. Just a black screen, no blinking on my CF reader…

I had to go back to 1.2.3-RC1, booted right away. What have changed preventing my hardware to boot?

I use a 512MB CF card, and a IM-945GSE motherboard.

Ideas?

edit: I know it outputs to serial, that's not the issue - I use hyperterminal perfectly fine on 1.2.3-RC1

netphreak

No one have a clue what changes to the image that makes my hardware refusing to boot 1.2.3-RELEASE on compact flash? ???

stephenw10

Hmmm.
I agree that it should work on your 512MB card. I would suspect a possible problem with your CF card that isn't shown up by the smaller rc1 image.
Is your card actually 512MB? Perhaps it has damage?
First thing I'd try is a new card. 2G CF cards are cheap these days anyway and with the new embedded install supporting some packages you might need the extra room. :)

Steve

jimp

You might try the pfSense 1.2.3 Hacom images:

http://www.hacom.net/catalog/pub/pfsense

They use a slightly different boot method.

netphreak

Thank you for the replies :)

Alright, I'll buy a new CF card, just in case. If that doesn't work, I'll try with Hacom (though, I'm a little concerned on how updates will be handled).

I'll let you know how it goes.

stephenw10

Hacom image looks interesting.
However it looks like they only have 1G 2G and 4G images.
So you'll still need a bigger card! ::)

Steve

netphreak

Alright, my 4GiB 300X CF card finally arrived. No difference - it refuses to boot the card with 1.2.3-RELEASE :(

I will now give Hacom a shot.

netphreak

And there you go… Boots straight away on Hacom.

But I don't like it though... Only manual firmware update to future firmware releases - an my bet is that I can only upgrade to other Hacom releases - if they're still around at next release...

EddieA

@netphreak:

But I don't like it though… Only manual firmware update to future firmware releases

Wasn't that also the case with pfSense prior to 1.2.3 when the images were still known as "embedded".

Cheers.