[syslinux] MEMDISK issue with OptiPlex GX280,620

[Jason Vasquez]

Thank you for the response.

Below is an excerpt of memdisk_dskprobe's information (I was not able to capture the full output):

probe_int13_ah(0xfb, 0x08) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfb, 0x15) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfb, 0x41) == 1
probe_bda_drive(0xfb) == 0 count: 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfc, 0x08) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfc, 0x15) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfc, 0x41) == 1
probe_bda_drive(0xfc) == 0 count: 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfd, 0x08) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfd, 0x15) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfd, 0x41) == 1
probe_bda_drive(0xfd) == 0 count: 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfe, 0x08) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfe, 0x15) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xfe, 0x41) == 1
probe_bda_drive(0xfe) == 0 count: 1
probe_int13_ah(0xff, 0x08) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xff, 0x15) == 1
probe_int13_ah(0xff, 0x41) == 1
probe_bda_drive(0xff) == 0 count: 1
We lost the last drive in our class of drives.
Drive probing gives drive shift limit: 0x01
old: int13 = f00042e4  int15 = f000f859  int1e = f000efc7
new: int13 = 9f00000a  int15 = 9f0003ba  int1e = f000efc7
Loading boot sector... press any key to boot...


Regarding the hdd image. You are correct in deducing that I created the image. I originally started with a 16MB SD card and configured it as a Ghost client disk. Then I copied its contents to a Sony 8MB Memory Stick. The 8MB image was a product of this card with the interest of having a smaller boot load. Below are the details involved configuring the hdd image source media. (Apologies for the extra information.)

-------------------------------
#Sony Memory Stick 8MB (msa-8a)
#(note: created by 'dd'-ing 16MB Panasonic SD image to Sony 8MB media)

#fdisk -lu /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 8 MB, 8110080 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders, total 15840 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *          63       16064        8001    4  FAT16 <32M

#disktype /dev/sda

--- /dev/sda
Block device, size 7.734 MiB (8110080 bytes)
DOS/MBR partition map
Partition 1: 7.813 MiB (8193024 bytes, 16002 sectors from 63, bootable)
  Type 0x04 (FAT16 <32M)
  FAT16 file system (hints score 5 of 5)
    Volume size 7.737 MiB (8112640 bytes, 15845 clusters of 512 bytes)

#file -s /dev/sda1

/dev/sda1: x86 boot sector, code offset 0x58, OEM-ID "IBM  7.1", root entries 512, sectors 16002 (volumes <=32 MB) , Media descriptor 0xf8, sectors/FAT 62, heads 255, hidden sectors 63, serial number 0x434b15d8, unlabeled, FAT (16 bit)

-------------------------------
#Panasonic SD 16MB (rp-sd016b)
#(note: as formatted by Ghost Boot Wizard)

#fdisk -lu /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 14 MB, 14909440 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1 cylinders, total 29120 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *          63       16064        8001    4  FAT16 <32M

#disktype /dev/sda

--- /dev/sda
Block device, size 14.22 MiB (14909440 bytes)
DOS/MBR partition map
Partition 1: 7.813 MiB (8193024 bytes, 16002 sectors from 63, bootable)
  Type 0x04 (FAT16 <32M)
  FAT16 file system (hints score 5 of 5)
    Volume size 7.737 MiB (8112640 bytes, 15845 clusters of 512 bytes)

#file -s /dev/sda1

/dev/sda1: x86 boot sector, code offset 0x58, OEM-ID "IBM  7.1", root entries 512, sectors 16002 (volumes <=32 MB) , Media descriptor 0xf8, sectors/FAT 62, heads 255, hidden sectors 63, serial number 0x2e7717e0, unlabeled, FAT (16 bit)

#parted /dev/sda print

Model: Generic STORAGE DEVICE (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 14.9MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  8225kB  8193kB  primary  fat16        boot