Re: Reinstalling OpenBSD without formatting partitions.

["David S." <davids@idiom.com>]

> When I install OpenBSD, the installation program will format all
> partitions.
> Is there a way to leave one partition as it is, without
> formatting it?

You can do the whole installation "by hand" just about any way you
will:

	Boot from the install floppy and choose "shell"
	If i386, partition the root disk with 'fdisk'
	Label the disks, or not, with 'disklabel'
	Create filesystems, or not, on the partitions with 'newfs'
	Mount your partions
	If you're going to get the distribution by FTP, configure
	   your network with 'ifconfig' and 'route' and fetch the
	   the installation sets; if you've got the distribution
	   on CD, mount it
	Unpack the distribution sets with 'tar' (or maybe 'pax')
	Make the device files with 'MAKEDEV'
	Install the MBR with 'installboot'
	Make an appropriate 'fstab'
	Sym-link the appropriate timezone file to 'etc/localtime'
	(If I've missed a step, I'm sure someone will correct me)
	Reboot

David S.