Installing SCO OpenServer 5 on IDE based Apricot systems

Throughout this IPB, an italic font indicates SCO terminology, and a courier font denotes screen output, a file name, command or menu item name.

Due to a problem with the SCO OpenServer 5 installation software, problems may be encountered when installing on an IDE based system. Typically, the system will install OK, up to the point where the disk has been set up with an active UNIX partition, and then on exiting the fdisk stage of the interactive fdisk/divvy installation, it will loop with the message:

can't read bad block list

This problem has been previously referred to in IPB 3210 (which specifically refers to the VS660). The problem will arise when the hard disk has had an operating system previously installed. A typical example of this is where a new machine is shipped with DOS or Windows pre-installed. At the time of writing the SCO OpenServer 5 installation routine incorrectly manipulates the master boot record, and will not proceed.

The solution to this is to overwrite the master boot record with some data. We have found that the Apricot hard disk diagnostic test TES050 (available under the \diags directory of the Insight Classic CD) is particularly suitable for this purpose. We recommend therefore, that before any installation involving SCO OpenServer 5 is attempted on IDE based systems, this test is run to clear the masterboot record.

To do this, boot the machine into MS-DOS, and load TES050. If desired, alter the test pattern that the test writes via the System configuration menu option, although this is not critical. Select the Write/Read soak test option from the main menu. Once selected, the test need only be run for a short time, as the masterboot record is at the beginning of the disk. The machine will have to be re-booted to exit from the test.

Once the machine has reset, the installation of SCO OpenServer 5 can be started. Note that the machine’s IDE translation setting in the BIOS should be set to Extended CHS for SCO OpenServer 5.

These recommendations apply to both SCO OpenServer 5 standalone installations and those with DOS installed also. See also IPB 3199 which refers to SCO UNIX 3.2v4.2 and SCO Openserver 5 installation on Diamond based systems.

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