From: H. Peter Anvin N9ITP (hpa@casbah.acns.nwu.edu)
Date: 11/06/92


From: hpa@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (H. Peter Anvin N9ITP)
Subject: Re: Extended FS -> "magic match failed"
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 03:18:41 GMT

In article <1dee3sINNn98@frigate.doc.ic.ac.uk> of comp.os.linux,
  apl@doc.ic.ac.uk (Ari P Laakkonen) writes:
>
> In article <chans.721065175@marsh>, chans@cs.curtin.edu.au (Sean Chan) writes:
> |> I installed Linux on my hard drive as Linux Extended FS (Partition ID
> |> 83), with the SLS distribution. After the installation was complete, I
> |> rebooted...and it came up with "magic match failed". Other than that
> |> statement, Linux works fine. I can login, etc.
> |>
> |> Oh, yes, when I do a fsck /dev/hda2 it comes up with a "bad magic number
> |> in super-block". What does this mean?? Can anyone shed some light here??
> |>
> |> Sean
>
> I think this is because the kernel assumes that the root partition is a
> minix partition.
> You could try to have a really minimalist minix root partition and then use
> another partition with an ext fs on it for the bulk of your files.
>

The message is harmless, and occurs because the kernel tries to mount root
in the order minix -> ext -> msdos.

For the extfs you have to use efsck instead of fsck.

        /hpa

-- 
INTERNET:  hpa@nwu.edu   TALK:      hpa@casbah.acns.nwu.edu
BITNET:    HPA@NUACC     IBMNET:    16331@IBMX400
HAM RADIO: N9ITP         NeXTMAIL:  hpa@lenny.acns.nwu.edu
Keyboard not found, press F1 to continue or Ctrl-Esc for setup