Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!TRANSARC.COM!Steve_Gale
From: Steve_Gale@TRANSARC.COM
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: (PC) Novice questions
Message-ID: <AcEYiiH0BwwLEuNVph@transarc.com>
Date: 28 May 91 12:23:10 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Lines: 33

Hello all,

1. I'm having some trouble getting Minix 1.5.10 up on my 386 box (RLL
   controller).  I know that some people with RLL controllers have to
   rebuild the kernel; is that really need if you use the -s26 switch
   to fdisk?  If so, I think I can rebuild the kernel w/o a friend's
   computer by installing the Universal (BIOS) version, rebuilding,
   and then installing the freshly rebuilt kernel.  Will this work?

2. I can't find the executables dd and mkfs.  I looked on all the
   disks labeled "System Executables #n" in the /bin directory, in
   the /usr/bin directory on the "System Executables #1 (/usr)" disk,
   and in the /bin and /etc directories on the "Root File System"
   disk.  Where can these be found? (As you can guess, I'm totally
   hosed without mkfs.)

3. I'd like to keep a DOS partition on my disk.  For now it's ok to
   use a boot disk to start DOS -- later I'd like a dual-boot option
   (is there such a thing available?)  I guess I'll assign partitions
   1, 3, and 4 to Minix and partition 2 to DOS.  Should I mark the DOS
   partition as "Active" (the manual says that DOS cares, but it
   doesn't say which way) ?

4. Since there are only 4 partition entries in the table, partition
   3 is used for the RAM disk, and partitions have a maximum of 32
   meg, a single disk is limited to 32 * 3 + RAM disk ~= 100 meg.
   Is this right or am I missing something?  How can people who use
   DOS have 300 meg drives?

Thanks,
Steve

gale@transarc.com