Total sectors not a multiple of sectors per track


Forum: USB booting
Topic: Total sectors not a multiple of sectors per track
started by: Z038

Posted by Z038 on Jan. 09 2005,05:20
I got an error like the bolded lines below when trying to install syslinux to my USB pen drive:

dsl@box:~$ sudo su
root@ttyp1[dsl]# ./syslinux -o bootusb-o.8.img /dev/sda1
Total number of sectors not a multiple of sectors per track!
Add mtools_skip_check=1 to your .mtoolsrc file to skip this test


I was unable to get the special parameter to work by adding it to the .mtoolsrc file.  I don't know why.  I put the file in the same directory as the syslinux command, but it didn't seem to make a difference.  I continued to get the same error message.  But simply exporting the parameter worked fine:  

root@ttyp1[dsl]# export MTOOLS_SKIP_CHECK=1

After I did this, the syslinux command completed successfully:  

root@ttyp1[dsl]# ./syslinux -o bootusb-o.8.img /dev/sda1
root@ttyp1[dsl]#

I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem, so I'm not sure how common it is.  I have a Lexar 256M Jump Drive Pro.  Note that the MTOOLS_SKIP_CHECK setting has to be exported in upper case.  It doesn't work if it's in lower case.  

I just thought I'd mention this in case anyone else encounters it.

Posted by goldenratiophi on Jan. 10 2005,20:59
I had this problem before.

The solution:  back up your data.  Then run "fdisk /dev/sda" (assuming sda is your flash drive.  Don't do sda1; that's a partition).  Delete (type "d") partition 1.  Now add a new partition (type "n"), then when it asks you if you want a primary or extended partition, type 'p'.  When it asks you for a partition number, type 1.  Just <ENTER> through everything else.  Now type 'a<ENTER>.'  Finally, 't<ENTER>6<ENTER>'.

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