[syslinux] unable to boot XP (Image checksum error)

[Eric A. Hall]

Hi,

I'm trying to make a triple-boot recovery CD containing Linux System
Rescue, XP Recovery Console, and DOS/WinME for GHOST etc.

I can compile the ISO fine, and the System Rescue stuff works fine too,
but when I try to boot the XP image isolinux says "Image checksum
failure... sorry" and dies.

Details below, separated with dashes

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I'm using Fedora Core 5, and RPM reports syslinux-3.10-2.2. I tried older
versions and also tried SUSE 9.3, but all combinations either gave the
same error or would print the first dot from the XP bootloader and then
lock up.

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Here's the isolinux.cfg:

display bootmenu.txt
prompt 1

label 1
        kernel /vmlinuz1
        append initrd=initrd1 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc vga=791

label 2
        kernel /xpboot.bin
        append -

label 4
        kernel /memdisk
        append initrd=/freedos.img floppy

label 5
        kernel /memdisk
        append initrd=/memtestp.img floppy

label 6
        kernel /memdisk
        append initrd=/ntpass.img floppy

label 7
        localboot 0x80

label 8
        localboot 0x00

label 9
        localboot -1

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I've tried multiple versions of the "xpboot.bin" referred to above, either
extraced myself using ISO Buster, or downloaded off the Internet. They all
fail to load under isolinux. I've also used the same images with MagicISO
multi-boot (Windows utility) and it loads fine there (although using
isolinux to load the Linux System Recovery tool craps there, alas).

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Here's the command and output for building the ISO:

[ ehall$ ] mkisofs -R -J -N -b isolinux-debug.bin -c boot.cat
 -o /tmp/rescuecd.iso -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4
 -boot-info-table .

Warning: creating filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660.
INFO:   UTF-8 character encoding detected by locale settings.
        Assuming UTF-8 encoded filenames on source filesystem,
        use -input-charset to override.
Using ISOLI000.BIN for  /isolinux.bin (isolinux-debug.bin)
Size of boot image is 4 sectors -> No emulation
  7.98% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:56 2006
 15.97% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:50 2006
 23.93% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:48 2006
 31.92% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:47 2006
 39.89% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:49 2006
 47.88% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:48 2006
 55.84% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:47 2006
 63.83% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:50 2006
 71.80% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:50 2006
 79.79% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:50 2006
 87.75% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:49 2006
 95.73% done, estimate finish Sun Jun 25 17:21:50 2006
Total translation table size: 2048
Total rockridge attributes bytes: 23697
Total directory bytes: 38912
Path table size(bytes): 50
Max brk space used 21000
62675 extents written (122 MB)

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The debug isolinux.bin produces the following output (typed by hand from
VMware console so maybe some errors):

isolinux: Loaded boot image, verifying...
isolinux: Main image read, jumping to main code...
isolinux: Root directory at LBA = 0000001D
isolinux: About to load config file...
isolinux: Configuration file opened...

   1) Linux System Rescue        2) XP Recovery Console
   3) XXXXXXXXXXXXX              4) FreeDOS
   5) MEMTEST                    6) NTPASS
   7) Boot from hard disk        8) Boot from floppy
   9) Boot from next device

boot: 2
.

ISOLINUX 3.10 2005-08-24  Copyright (C) 1994-2005 H. Peter Anvin
isolinux: Start up, DL = 9F
isolinux: Loaded spec packet OK, drive = 9F
isolinux: Loading main image from LBA = 0000003F
isolinux: Sectors to load = 0005
isolinux: Loaded boot image, verifying...
isolinux: Image checksum error, sorry...

Boot failed: press a key to retry...

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I think that's everything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!