[comp.sys.mac] Trouble setting startup volume

jnh@ecemwl.ncsu.edu (Joseph N. Hall) (08/04/89)

I am *very* confused.  I recently bought a Cirrus 110Mb external drive
for my SE, which also has an Apple 20Mb internal.  The machine simply will
not boot from the Cirrus while there is a valid System Folder on
the internal disk.

The Cirrus is divided into three partitions, the (alphabetically) first of
which is to be the "boot volume."

When I set the startup volume from the Control Panel, the three Cirrus
partitions are, apparently, considered to be the same volume, since all
three come up highlighted when I highlight one, exit the Control Panel, and
then return to it.

I tried zapping the PRAM a couple of times, to no avail.

When I start up the machine with a valid System Folder in the internal drive,
the internal drive burps, the Cirrus burps, and then booting proceeds normally
from the internal drive, REGARDLESS of the setting of the Startup Device CDEV.

If there is no valid System Folder in the internal drive, but one has been
there since the internal drive was last initialized, then the internal drive
burps, the Cirrus burps, booting begins from the internal drive (smiley
appears), then the smiley disappears, the machine pauses for a while, then
boots from the Cirrus.

If the internal drive hasn't been "contaminated" with a System Folder since
it was last initialized, THEN and only then does the machine boot normally
from the Cirrus, i.e., the internal drive burps, the Cirrus burps, and then
booting proceeds from the Cirrus.

I have a 2.5Mb SE with the Apple 20MB internal drive.  The behavior is
independent of INITs, CDEVs, etc.  I am running System 6.0.2 and the SE's
hard disk has been reinitialized with that version of SC Setup (or whatever
it's called).  The Cirrus came pre-formatted and I have repartitioned it
a few times, but not completely reinitialized it.  The stuff in the System
Folders in question is straight from the 6.0.2 Installer's SE script.  The
Cirrus software is whatever they were shipping last week ...

So ... what's the deal?


v   v sssss|| joseph hall                      || 4116 Brewster Drive
 v v s   s || jnh@ecemwl.ncsu.edu (Internet)   || Raleigh, NC  27606
  v   sss  || SP Software/CAD Tool Developer, Mac Hacker and Keyboardist
-----------|| Disclaimer: NCSU may not share my views, but is welcome to.