[syslinux] Fwd: Boot from USB without C Drive

Wed Sep 20 17:37:54 PDT 2006

On 9/20/06, Adiguna Muhammad <adiguna at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear All
>
> Thanks you for the device.
> My problem is solved now, because I use another USB-CDROM for booting :)
> Somehow, the first cdrom can't boot on my Laptop.
> I have success running DOS 622 from syslinux without C drive.
> But when I install Windows XP, it can't boot from the C Drive eventhough the
> ntldr and boot.ini is setup correctly.
> Maybe there's something wrong with the MBR.
> I haven't try running fdisk from FreeDOS though.
> I don't want to mess up with my MBR anymore :)
>
> Regards//Adiguna
>
>
>
>
> On 9/20/06, Peter.Leenders at computacenter.com <
> Peter.Leenders at computacenter.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Hello Adiguna,
> >
> > try to use fdisk from freedos. With it you can activate partitions and
> > write Masterbootrecords on other than the first harddisk. For complete
> > options run fdisk /?. By the way with freedos fdisk you can partion harddisk
> > > 128 GB (win 98 can't do by its own).
> >
> > Yours sincerely
> > Peter Leenders
> >
> >
> > [image: Inactive hide details for "Adiguna Muhammad" <adiguna at gmail.com>]"Adiguna
> > Muhammad" <adiguna at gmail.com>
> >
> >
> >
> >      *"Adiguna Muhammad" <adiguna at gmail.com>*
> >             Sent by: syslinux-bounces at zytor.com
> >
> >             19.09.2006 12:18
> >
> >
> > To
> >
> > syslinux at zytor.com
> > cc
> >
> >
> > Subject
> >
> > Re: [syslinux] Fwd: Boot from USB without C Drive
> >
> > 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
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > SYSLINUX mailing list
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> > > > > Unsubscribe or set options at:
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> > > > > Please do not send private replies to mailing list traffic.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > 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?
> > _______________________________________________
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Most likely your harddrive's primary partition isn't marked as
"active."  It's ok to run fdisk, just don't run fdisk /mbr.  And if
you prefer, the linux fdisk is equally good at this sort of thing
since it makes only the changes you tell it to.  Of course, if the
correct partition is indeed set to active, be sure the bios is
correctly set to boot the harddrive.  Finally, if all else fails, now
that you have a bootable CD drive, boot the XP cd and select the
recovery console.  Log in using your administrator password, and use
the bootfix program to reinstall the bootloader.