[syslinux] Syslinux "new" vs "old": strange difference on USB flash set-up

[alex lupu]

Hello,

CONFIGURATION
Syslinux "old": 3.36
Syslinux "new": 5.01
(B)LFS i686-pc-linux-gnu 3.8.0
Machine #1:  ASUS P5E-VM HDMI.  Latest BIOS.  circa 3 years ago.
Machine #2:  ASUS P8H77-I.      Latest BIOS.  This year.
USB Flash stick:  Kingston "Data Traveler" 4GB.  Clean (blank)

STRANGE (UNEXPLAINED) syslinux BEHAVIOR DIFFERENCE
Steps:
1.  Set up KNOPPIX 7.05 (latest) on the flash drive.
Trivial.  Approx. 2 min.  Script (to avoid human finger errors).

2.  Last command of the tried and true script above (either):
 "2.Good":  'syslinux(3.36) -s /dev/sdb'     Command succeeds (no surprise).
   or:
 "2.Bad":   'syslinux(5.01) -i /dev/sdb'     Command succeeds (no surprise).

3.  Reboot on the just created Knoppix USB boot drive.
 "2.Good":  You get the "regular" Knoppix splash,
            The big Leo de Vinci/Linux Vitruvian Penguin culminating in
            the expected two text lines with the "boot: " prompt at bottom.
            Black background.

 "2.Bad":   The Knoppix "splash" consists of just the two text lines with
            the "boot: " prompt at bottom on an ugly
            Blue background.
            NO Vitruvian Penguin in sight :(

COMMENTS
1.  Weird.
2.  On "2.Bad", it seems the loader doesn't/cannot paint the graphical logo
    ('logo.16' in the 'boot.msg').
3.  'syslinux(5.01) -s /dev/sdb' leads to identical "2.Bad" results.
4.  For the record;  both variants do subsequently work correctly in
    bringing up the Knoppix (7.05) graphical system.

Any helpful/interesting words will be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
-- Alex