# Loading SCO Unix **URL:** \ **Category:** SCO\ **Created:** [April 26, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953 "2024-04-26T19:22:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/1 "2024-04-26T19:22:48Z")
My hard drive failed and when I try to load SCO I get the following error: setup\_OSpart: pt\_init\_disk() failed. It looks like it is not seeing the new hard drive, because I get: .instscript: /dev/hd00: cannot open. I am loading 3.0 from 3.5 floppies. Tried to load 5.0.4, but can't get the CD drive to be recognized. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/2 "2024-04-27T12:45:08Z")
Without knowing the exact hardware you are using, the following is only a guess. Neither of those operating systems support SATA drives in native mode. My guess is that when you replaced the drive, the CMOS setting for the disk controller is now native mode instead of compatible. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/3 "2024-04-29T15:50:22Z")
In addition, the maximum disk size for 5.0.4 is only 8gb. I would recommend re-installing the system using Virtual Box, [https://wdb1.sco.com/kb/showta?taid=118463&qid=919756846&sid=1377207550&pgnum=1](https://wdb1.sco.com/kb/showta?taid=118463&qid=919756846&sid=1377207550&pgnum=1) ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/4 "2024-05-06T17:44:38Z")
The computer is a IBM 300XL with a western digital caviar 35100 Hard Drive. The drive is identical to the one being replaced. I think the problem is the hard drive is not formated for unix. I tried using fdisk when I get the Boot: prompt, but doesn't work. So not sure how to format the disk for Unix. Last time I did this was 15 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/5 "2024-05-06T18:24:11Z")
You may need a boot diskette for the 5.0.4 cd. I don't remember if the cd is bootable. If you are getting to the boot prompt then you only need to press enter to start the installation process which will run fdisk and divvy. ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/6 "2024-05-06T19:21:34Z")
I tried, but the CD drive is not recognized. I also have 3.0 disks that I started to load, but after N2 disk asks to put in the N1 disk again, I get the blue screen with setup\_OSpart: pt\_init\_disk() failed. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/7 "2024-05-06T19:52:32Z")
When you try 5.0.4, are you booting from the Cd or do you have a boot diskette? Can you run the cmos setup and confirm that the hard drive the primary device on the primary port? Check the jumpers on the disk to see if they are set the same as the failed disk, assuming you still have it. ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/8 "2024-05-06T20:29:53Z")
Jumpers are the same as the failed disk. Last time I did this I used the 3.0 disks first then upgrade to 5.0.4 with the CD drive. I tried 5.0.4 from the CD drive and it doesn't recognize it. I start to get hexadecimal addresses on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/9 "2024-05-06T22:27:39Z")
Download 5.0.6 from here [https://www.tachytelic.net/sco-openserver-installation-isos/](https://www.tachytelic.net/sco-openserver-installation-isos/) Your 5.0.4 license will work, and your system will boot from the cd, ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/10 "2024-05-07T14:57:12Z")
I tried booting from the CD with 5.0.6 and I got the following screen: ET-00:00:00 ID-166 IO-0EF4 BU-004 BL-D45079S MM-DA0011 SR-DA0004 ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/11 "2024-05-07T14:58:50Z")
Is there anyone in the Connecticut area who could work this problem? ---
**Author:** ![MadeInGermany](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/madeingermany/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@MadeInGermany](https://community.unix.com/u/MadeInGermany)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/12 "2024-05-07T16:18:45Z")
My only idea is, check the BIOS settings! Perhaps SCO requires some old setting? (A BIOS update can switch a setting.) **Setting: old - new** Partitiontable: MBR - GPT SATA config: IDE - AHCI Boot mode: legacy - UEFI ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/15 "2024-05-08T01:08:41Z")
Did you burn the iso to a 740mb cd or a 4.7gb DVD. I do know that 5.0.7 will not boot from a DVD. If you install Virtual Box on a Windows 7 or newer, or Linux Mint on a recent PC, along with AnyDesk, I can set it up remotely. I am in Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![anon68137830](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/anon68137830/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@anon68137830](https://community.unix.com/u/anon68137830)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 9:18am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/16 "2024-05-08T09:18:49Z")
> [@jgt](#): > > I do know that 5.0.7 will not boot from a DVD. But I'm wondering "why wouldn't it boot?" - if you keep the filesystem intact e.g. ISO9660/Joliet and not change it to e.g. UDF, then the physical medium shouldn't actually matter - afaik, CDs and DVDs are accessed the same way (in this particular "protocol" regard, not going low-level to how they're built). ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/17 "2024-05-08T12:46:29Z")
I burned a 700 MB CD, but still no go. When I try to boot from floppies SCO3.0 it starts to load the system but it can't open the hard drive. Yet the BIOS sees the hard drive. I did this a number of years ago and when the 3.0 was loaded I upgraded to to 5.0.4. I do have a token ring on the computer that has the tape and CD drives connected. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/18 "2024-05-08T13:59:27Z")
You may be right. I simply selected the iso and clicked "Burn"; if the default settings are different for each media type then... The other issue though, is that this computer system was manufactured in 1997 so the drive might not be capable of reading a DVD. ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/19 "2024-05-08T14:19:30Z")
Is there a Firmware revision number on the drive, and is it the same as the failed drive? Am I to assume that you have a backup of your application on a tape? Does the tape drive only have a token ring interface? I am pretty certain that even 5.0.6 does not support a token ring connected boot device, which means that you would have to first install 3.0, which I am presuming is Open Desktop and includes tcp from the diskettes then upgrade. Even installing 5.0.6 via Virtual Box is problematic, as you will in all likelihood not be able to find a token ring NIC to install in a newer system in order to connect the tape drive and do a restore. If you can find an internal IDE cd drive, or even a DVD drive, you may be able to install 5.0.6 directly. ---
**Author:** ![hicksd8](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/hicksd8/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@hicksd8](https://community.unix.com/u/hicksd8)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/20 "2024-05-08T15:21:57Z")
@jgt ... I question whether that hardware requires a special driver loaded for even the CD drive? Searching for "IBM 300XL CD driver" it seems that a particular driver was used to get the CD drive to work on SCO. Whether that was loaded by "defbootstr" I don't know. I also don't know where one could download that SCO compatible driver now. This is interesting, although it's probably not the exact same hardware: > **[Installing SCO OpenServer v5.0.6 - IBM eServer xSeries 300](https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/installing-sco-openserver-v506-ibm-eserver-xseries-300)** > > Instructions for installing SCO OpenServer v5.0.6 on the IBM eServer xSeries 300 And this (Windows related): > **[IBM 300XL CD-ROM driver needed - PC hardware - General discussion - Tek-Tips](https://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1004430)** > > I need the CD-ROM driver for an IBM PC 300XL. The drive is an 8x. The file name is z51t03a.exe but is not available anymore from the IBM website. The Windows bo ---
**Author:** ![jgt](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/jgt/32/10703_2.png) [@jgt](https://community.unix.com/u/jgt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/21 "2024-05-10T15:49:52Z")
@dmci, We haven't heard from you for a couple of days. Have you found a solution? Another thought: assuming that you have some kind of cartridge tape, what format is it, and are SCSI interface drives available, maybe on ebay. ---
**Author:** ![dmci](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/dmci/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@dmci](https://community.unix.com/u/dmci)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:53am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953/22 "2024-05-22T10:53:10Z")
Still can't get SCO to load. I do have SCSI for tape and CD. The hard drive is IDE. I think I need to give a command at the boot: prompt. Last time I did this was like 15 years ago. I loaded the 3.0 and then upgraded to 5.0.4. Since the new hard drives are not formated for UNIX, it must not be seeing them. I can't tell from the manual what command I should use at the boot: to format. [Next page](https://community.unix.com/t/loading-sco-unix/393953.md?page=2)