[syslinux] SYSLINUX 3.00-pre8: Let's try this release thing again

[H. Peter Anvin]

Blaauw,Bernd B. wrote:
> Another feature request: compatibility with ancient systems (8086, 80286), at least for LOCALBOOT and for KERNEL filename.BSS
> (local boot and loading a DOS bootsectorfile).
> 
> This would allow me to use Syslinux as the primary bootloader on a bootdisk which needs to be compatible with even 8086/80286 (386+ specific stuff ofcourse allowed, but set apart).

No way in hell.  Really.  Not unless you submit a rewritten SYSLINUX 
boot sector using no 386 features.

> I'm not able to test it though :(
> No suitable emulator, no ancient computer.

Then why the **** do you want it?  What reason is it to support this in 
2005?

> Currently I'd have to do something like this (didn't test bootsectorfile support/implementation of Syslinux installer yet!) to install a special bootloader called MetaKern, which loads a bootsector (appended to itself)
> 
> SYSLINUX A: C:\SYSLINUX.BIN
> COPY /B C:\METACORE.BIN + C:\SYSLINUX.BIN + C:\METABOOT.BOT A:\METAKERN.SYS
> SYS C: A: /BOOTONLY /K METAKERN.SYS
> 
> I'd rather do only something like SYSLINUX A: , but that would require support of the mentioned ancient x86 platforms.

Why?

	-hpa