RE: [cobalt-users] New install resorting to previous install

["Neil Stringer" <neil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Got a new RaQ3i and loading it for first time. I only had one 
> drive when testing it to be sure it was good, so I loaded 4i 
> OS. Brought in a second hd and loaded a 4r iso previously 
> downloaded and burned to CD, booted CD from machine on 
> network, booted RaQ4r from net, and the RaQ4i OS is still on 
> the machine. So, you think, the CD is actually 4i and go and 
> burn another one, same thing. I added storage in the GUI to 
> be sure there was nothing wrong with the drive or controller 
> for the second drive, everything loaded fine with the right 
> sizes, etc. I then removed the extra storage using the GUI, 
> all OK. So, you think, it's the source, but I wanted to be 
> sure before I waste my time downloading another iso because I 
> could swear the first CD was used to load a RaQ4r before. 
> Brought up the two hard drives on a RedHat box and deleted 
> everything from them using Webmin, did a 'fdisk -l' and 
> nothing on the two drives. This is where it gets weird -> Put 
> the two drives back in the RaQ, booted from net, goes through 
> the first tests (MFG, etc.), starts to load rpm's, then 
> starts shutting down, reboots backup with the same IP and 
> hostname previously given to the machine and all is back to 
> the same 4i load I did before. I go into storage in the GUI 
> and see the second drive with a big red 'X' denoting it's 
> disabled, try deleting it or editing it, nothing happens - 
> just the page reloads with the same status. However, the 
> first drive functioning normally with 4i loaded. Remember, 
> these drives were completely wiped prior to the last install, 
> how did it know the second drive name, hostname, or IP? Where 
> is that coming from? Or were they wiped? Can something still 
> be on the disk when 'fdisk -l' shows nothing for the drives. 
> I did 'fdisk -l' after I deleting each partition and each 
> time the partition that was removed no longer showed up.....

It's probably no help but I had similar problems on a Raq4i...
Downloaded the 4R ISO, could I get it to do anything other than dick
around on the rebuild, nope.
Wiped the disks on a link bix.  Same thing.  Put disks in a wintel box,
and saw something really weird, although the partition table was wiped,
the partitions were still there, but Partition Magic also complained
about the partition table being at the 'wrong offset' or womething realy
weird. Gerald W said that he remembered something about the 4R OSRCD
trying to be too clever and using partitions that already existed.  He
and Bruce T suggested that I connect via a null modem cable and at least
monitor what it was doing to try and find a lead...  Sorry, this is
about as much as I have on this.  I gave up...
--Neil