[syslinux] Windows Recovery console FAILS to boot with Syslinux-4.02

[Gert Hulselmans]

Andrew Stuart wrote:
> On 8/19/2010 10:48 AM, Prof S W Damle wrote:
>> Hello Sir,
>>
>> Copid cmdcons and cmldr to O:(my usb drive) as follows
>>
>> (1)
>>   Microsoft(R) Windows 98
>>     (C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1999.
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>format o: /s
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>format o: /s
>>
>> WARNING, ALL DATA ON DISK
>> DRIVE O: WILL BE LOST!
>> Proceed with Format (Y/N)?y
>>
>>
>> Checking existing disk format.
>> Formatting 967.98M
>> Format complete.
>> System transferred
>>
>> Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?
>>
>> 1,014,726,656 bytes total disk space
>>        425,984 bytes used by system
>> 1,014,300,672 bytes available on disk
>>
>>         16,384 bytes in each allocation unit.
>>         61,908 allocation units available on disk.
>>
>> Volume Serial Number is 404E-16F4
>>
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>  mkdir o:\syslinux
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>  cd c:\unzipped\syslinux-4.02\dos
>>
>> C:\Unzipped\syslinux-4.02\DOS>  syslinux -d syslinux o:
>>
>> C:\Unzipped\syslinux-4.02\DOS>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> (2)
>> Microsoft(R) Windows 98
>> (C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1999.
>>
>> C:\WINDOWS>cd c:\
>>
>> C:\>xcopy /e /h cmdcons o:\cmdcons\
>> ...
>>
>>
>> TFFSPORT.SY_
>> TOSIDE.SY_
>> TXTSETUP.SIF
>> ULTRA.SY_
>> USBCCGP.SY_
>> USBD.SY_
>> USBHUB.SY_
>> USBOHCI.SY_
>> USBPORT.SY_
>> USBSTOR.SY_
>> USBUHCI.SY_
>> VGA.SY_
>> VGAOEM.FO_
>> VIAIDE.SY_
>> VIDEOPRT.SY_
>> WINNT.SIF
>> WMILIB.SY_
>> SYSTEM32\NTDLL.DLL
>> SYSTEM32\SMSS.EXE
>> 179 File(s) copied
>>
>> C:\>copy cmldr o:\
>>
>> 1 file(s) copied
>>
>> C:\>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>> (3)
>> However sorry to say Windows Recovery console does NOT boot with the
>> following entries in syslinux.cfg
>>
>> LABEL cmdcons  =>Windows Recovery Console
>> MENU LABEL ^2.cmdcons  =>Windows Recovery Console
>> COM32 chain.c32  fs cmldr=cmldr
>>    APPEND hd0 1 cmldr=cmldr
>>
>> What next?
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>> with regards,
>>
>> Prof S W Damle
>
> You don't specifically mention that you copied chain.c32 to your
> syslinux install, and from my understanding (which may well be wrong) it
> isn't copied during the installation of the syslinux mbr.
>
> You need to report more then 'it doesn't boot'. Thank you for specifying
> the procedure you used to get it installed, that is very helpful, Now we
> need to know what doesn't work?
>
> What's the last output you see? does it look like its attempting to boot
> cmdcons? Does it show an error message? if so, what does it say?
> does it just hang? does it reboot? Does syslinux even boot?
>
> -Andrew
>

Follow Andrews advice.

Like said before, don't use spaces in LABEL names:
Secondly, don't append parameters on the KERNEL, LINUX, COM32, ... line,
but specify them on the APPEND line, and definitely don't specify the same
parameter twice.
Third, you copied cmdlr too the root of your drive. You need to specify
the right path to cmldr to syslinux. Without a trailing slash '/' the path
is relative from the directory where syslinux is installed (so in your
case cmldr=cmldr searches for /syslinux/cmldr).
Like Andrew said, you need chain.c32 in /syslinux.

Correct this entry:
  LABEL cmdcons  =>Windows Recovery Console
  MENU LABEL ^2.cmdcons  =>Windows Recovery Console
  COM32 chain.c32  fs cmldr=cmldr
  APPEND hd0 1 cmldr=cmldr

To:
  LABEL cmdcons
  MENU LABEL ^2.cmdcons  =>Windows Recovery Console
  COM32 chain.c32
  APPEND hd0,1 cmldr=/cmldr

- Gert Hulselmans