[syslinux] Fwd: Boot from USB without C Drive

[Nazo]

On 9/19/06, Adiguna Muhammad <adiguna at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> On 9/19/06, Nazo <nazosan at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Nazo <nazosan at gmail.com >
> Date: Sep 19, 2006 1:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [syslinux] Boot from USB without C Drive
> To: Adiguna Muhammad <adiguna at gmail.com>
>
>
> On 9/18/06, Adiguna Muhammad < adiguna at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Dear All
> > I have a problem with my Compaq EVO n410c laptop.
> > I want to install Windows (Win98/WinXP) on it.
> > But this laptop don't have any floppy/cdrom to boot from.
> >
> > I have try to use My USB Drive to boot, using syslinux.
> >
> > Here's my step
> > 1. Format the USB Drive using "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool"
> > 2. Install syslinux (syslinux -f F:). F is my USB Drive
> > 3. Using "memdisk" to load FreeDos.
> >
> > Here is my syslinux.cfg file
> > label FreeBoot
> >     kernel memdisk
> >     append initrd=FreeBoot.img
> >
> > Finally I able to boot from USB.  The USB drive is detected as C:\ drive
> in
> > FreeDOS.
> > Then I copied Win98 CD to My HD.
> > The thing is, when I launch setup.exe on Win98 directory, it try to access
> > the C drive (which is My USB Drive).
> > Is there anyway to boot FreeDOS without the C:\ drive included?
> >
> > I want to make my USB Drive act like floppy, so I can install Win98 in
> > normal floppy-boot scenario.
> >
> > I have try another image :
> > - 622 Dos. It boot without C drive, but it doesn't detect my Laptop
> > harddisk. It fail when I try to launch fdisk
> > - Win98/ME boot disk image. But it can't boot. It stop when show "Starting
> > MS..."
> >
> > Or, Is there any other method for me to install Windows on my Laptop.
> >
> > Thanks you
> >
> > Regards//Adiguna
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
> The easiest thing for you to do would be to install the DOS loader to
> the harddrive.  Just type "SYS D:" (no quotes -- and change D: to
> whatever your harddrive is if it's not assigned the letter D) and next
> time you reboot it will boot from the harddrive.
>
> The DOS 6.22 bootdisk doesn't support FAT32.  The same applies to
> Win95a, though I think MAYBE 95b supported FAT32 (I never had occasion
> to try it firsthand on a harddrive > 2GiB.)  Ideally you want to find
> a 98/98se bootdisk which works correctly to use here.  It sounds to me
> like something is wrong with the image you are using, so perhaps try
> elsewhere.  I used to get my bootdisk images from www.bootdisk.com but
> in past years they have moved more and more towards becoming a bloated
> useless site -- nonetheless, you may still want to try here for your
> boot image.  If you use a MS-DOS, I suggest placing a config.sys file
> (it can be blank -- eg "ECHO. > D:\CONFIG.SYS") so that it won't make
> you enter the date and time when you start up.
>
> [Sorry for the forward.  I hit reply instead of reply all by accident.]
>
> ______
>
>
>
> Now I do this
> - I use "Hp Drive Key" software. It actually contain syslinux
> - Load Win98SE boot disk to USB
> - Boot from USB
> - Now I have drive A and C from USB and D from Laptop
> - Format D with "format /S d:" and type "SYS D:"
> - Reboot
>
> But it still can't boot from harddrive.
> Fyi, My D Drive is 512MB.
>
> Please Advice
>
> Regards//Adiguna
>

Hmm...  Firstly, you can get away with an older DOS version if you
like then and just use FAT16 instead of FAT32 if this is any easier
for you (which means you can use a DOS 6.22 or Windows 95 bootdisk.)
Anyway, you need to check to see if your harddrive's partition is
currently set to "active."  Also, telling fdisk to make a clean MBR
before doing sys d: may help (just type fdisk /mbr to do that.)
Honestly I'm not 100% sure it will be smart enough to wipe the MBR on
your actual harddrive, so I recommend that you remove the USB flash
drive first to be on the safe side.  Assuming you are using memdisk
for your floppy images, this should be ok since the image will be
resident in system memory rather than running from the flash drive.
Also, I'm just curious here, but, you say that you are using a 512MB
drive.  Could this be a CompactFlash card (besides the tell-tale size,
there is the fact that your laptop is new enough to support USB
booting, and laptops old enough to have a 512MB harddrive shouldn't
even have native USB support)?  If it is a memory card, have you
thought about simply using a memory card reader to do all you need on
another system first, then plugging the card back into the laptop?

Oh, and no need for sys d: if you do format /s d:.  The /s tells it to
transfer the system files after formatting.  The sys d: is just if you
don't want to reformat.  Also, as a little tip, you can use /q in the
format command to do a "quick format" which just basically blanks the
FAT without running the long test process you get with the standard
format.

PS.  Remember to use reply all so the mailing list gets a copy.  Lol,
I made the same mistake myself.