[syslinux] Fwd: Boot from USB without C Drive

Tue Sep 19 03:18:49 PDT 2006

On 9/19/06, Nazo <nazosan at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.

 1. 512 MB is my first partition (which is D). This isn't a compaq flash.
2. I can't set my Laptop harddrive Active, because the first disk is the USB
itself. As I said earlier, when I boot with USB, it create A: and C: drive.
3. If I running "fdisk /mbr", it will wipe out mbr from C: drive, not from
D: drive.

So, could syslinux emulate just floppy (without C:) from USB drive?