Re: [9fans] bug fix to /sys/src/libdisk/disk.c and /386/bin/format

[Mike Haertel <mike@ducky.net>]

>Perhaps a working Plan 9 boot block (512 bytes) could be
>placed on the distribution updates page?  (One could floppy-
>boot the system then copy the new block into place.)

The problem with this idea is that getting the correct bits
in your Plan 9 boot block depends on the disk geometry as
well as the details of the 9fat partition.  So there is
no one-size-fits-all boot block.

But, perhaps the Bell Labs folks could provide a new
install/boot floppy image, with a bugfixed format binary?

In the meantime, here is a sleazy workaround you can do
with the current install/boot floppy that will have the
exact same effect: just prior to doing the "bootsetup"
command, start a new window, and in the new window type
this command:

	dd -if /dev/sd00/data -of /dev/sd00/9fat -count 1

(where sd00 is the disk you are installing Plan 9 on; for IDE
disks it will be something like sdC0, etc.)

Then, go back to the install command window, run "bootsetup",
and select the "plan9" boot method.  (It will ask if you want
to install a new master boot record; in my experience you
can usually decline and things will work fine--you especially
want to say "no" if you are running a multi-boot manager of
some kind.  I use the one that comes with FreeBSD.)