Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!ukma!cwjcc!gatech!udel!mmdf
From: jnall%FSU.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (John Nall 904-644-5241)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: fsck gripes re sectors > 65K
Message-ID: <6310@louie.udel.EDU>
Date: 7 Jan 89 15:29:39 GMT
Sender: mmdf@udel.EDU
Lines: 24

A recent message from Chuck_M_Grandgent@CUP.PORTAL.COM (paraphrased)
indicates that he has problems with fsck when the Minix partion is well
along on a 40 MB disk.  Specifically, fsck complains that it will not do
anything with sectors > 65K and resigns.

I had the same problem (with a 40 MB ST251 harddisk, with DOS on hd1, and
Minix on HD2 (and root on hd3).  I don't have the problem now.  The following
is the data sheet:

(1)  The ST251 has 6 heads. Therefore fsck has to be recompiled, with the
     number of heads redefined as 6.  Note:  the version of fsck which has
     been distributed as 1.3d does NOT have HEADS defined, in spite of a
     note from ast to the contrary.  However, there is a version, which I
     think is 1535@ast.cs.vu.nl article, which does.

(2)  This needs to be compiled to run under Minix (i.e., without the
     -DSTANDALONE parameter).  The binary can then be put under /usr/bin
     and one can do an fsck /dev/hd2 or fsck /dev/hd3 with no problem.

(3)  One can still not do the harddisk check at bootup time (i.e, by typing
     h rather than =) since fsck will give the ">65K error" and quit.  But
     it can be used once you're booted up fine.

John Nall