[syslinux] PXELINUX LocalBoot 0 fail; hunting for bug

[Gene Cumm]

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 17:29, Gene Cumm <gene.cumm at gmail.com> wrote:
> And to add even more fun: The tweak I did (using 'LOCALBOOT -1') fails
> on a Dell OptiPlex GX240, BIOS A05, 3c920 LoM (also referred to as a
> 3c905C in some places), MBA 4.31 PXE 2.41.  BIOS is latest and I
> became aware of the GX240 issue because I got a report from a
> co-worker about a group of machines running BIOS A02.
>
> The situation on this model is that using 'LOCALBOOT -1' appears to
> exit from the PXE, load something from the hard drive and then proceed
> no further, hanging, and not responding to Ctrl-Alt-Del with what
> appears to be a completely black screen (at 720x400 at 70Hz, same as all
> other BIOS stuff).  The Windows XP splash screen changes the video
> mode to 640x480 at 60Hz (but is not loaded with 'LOCALBOOT -1').  Hitting
> <F8> quickly after 'LOCALBOOT -1' gets me to the "Windows Advanced
> Options Menu" but the keyboard is unresponsive once I see it.
>
> Back to the way I really wanted it in the first place: 'chain.c32 hd0'

Dell OptiPlex GX150 BIOS A11 and Dell OptiPlex GX110 BIOS A09 both
include MBA 4.31 PXE 2.41 and respond identically.  Either this PXE
stack or another commonality in these 3 machines is broken.  At least
'LOCALBOOT 0' and 'chain.c32 hd0' still work.

-- 
-Gene