[syslinux] syslinux.exe, 5.01 on xp: Failed to load COM32 file, and more

[Ady]

> On Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 04:31:09PM +0300, Ady wrote:
> > 
> > > Platform: MS XP
> > > 
> > >   1. cfg file:
> > > prompt   1
> > > timeout  150
> > > display  /downloadedPrograms/syslinux/syslinux.cfg
> > > 
> > > default  xp
> > > label  xp
> > >         com32  chain.c32
> > >         append hd0  1  ntldr=/ntldr
> > > label  de
> > >         com32  chain.c32
> > >         append hd0  2
> > > label  memtest
> > >         linux  memtest86+.bin
> > > label  hello
> > >         com32  hello.c32
> > > 
> > >   2. Installed by
> > > From xp cmd prompt:
> > >     c:\downloadedPrograms\syslinux\syslinux.exe --active     \
> > >            --directory /downloadedPrograms/syslinux/ --force \
> > >            --install --mbr c:
> > > The line, and the contniuation slashes, are for clarity.  In reality
> > > it was on a single line.
> > > 
> > >   3. Result:
> > > Got a boot: prompt after displaying the cfg file.  But:
> > > 
> > >     boot: xp
> > >     Failed to load COM32 file chain.c32
> > >     boot: memtest
> > >     Loading memtest86+.bin... ok
> > >     Booting kernel failed: Bad file number
> > >     boot: hello
> > >     Hello, world, from 0x001FA200! malloc return 0x001fb660
> > 
> >  I'd like to suggest a simple change that should ease the situation: 
> > change the location of SYSLINUX to
> >  c:\syslinux\ 
> > 
> > instead of having "c:\downloadedPrograms\syslinux\".
> > 
> > This suggestion means that:
> > 1_ all the files related to Syslinux (e.g. the cfg file, the c32 
> > modules...) should be located under "c:\syslinux\" (.c32 files should 
> > always match the same version of Syslinux being installed, and don't 
> > forget to use the lib*.c32 files.) - this should be your first step;
> > 
> > 2_ all relevant absolute paths (like the one used in your "display" 
> > directive in your cfg) shall be edited accordingly (or, 
> > alternatively, use relative paths);
> > 
> > 3_ The new suggested installation command would/should be:
> >   c:\syslinux\syslinux.exe --force --mbr --active /// 
> >               --directory /syslinux --install c: 
> > 
> > That's all one command. The "///" slashes are for clarity only.
> > 
> > The command shall be executed with administrator permissions.
> > 
> > Additionally, there is a chance that the specific version of Syslinux 
> > has some regression bug, so I would suggest trying with the latest 
> > official testing binaries. For Syslinux 6.xx, the official binaries 
> > are under respective directories ("/bios/", "/efi32/", "/efi64").
> > 
> 
> 
>   I am using 6.01 now.
> I tried with a c:\syslinux directory, instead of the longer path I 
> tried before.  It is worse then before.  After the syslinux copyright
> line, the disk activity led shines steadily.  But noting comes on the
> screen.  And nothing else happens.  Eventually I rebooted the machine.
> That experience happend several times, after I tried absolute and 
> relative paths for the display command.
>   I think your instructions tried to be most accurate.  Not leave
> something to chance.  I was trying to follow that in my tests.  I
> can't tell why for me, a dedicated c:\syslinux directory was behaving
> worse then my former, longer path, syslinux directory.
 
I could think of some potential reasons for such fail. For example, 
it is possible that version 6.01 has some bug regarding the DISPLAY 
directive (I have not tested this recently). Or perhaps some issue 
with chain.c32 and ntldr in Syslinux 6.01 (I have not tested this 
either).

Instead of trying (guessing) endless potential possibilities, I would 
suggest for you to use Syslinux 4.07 (with its corresponding c32 
files from the same version 4.07), with the same path and generic 
instructions I posted before.

Additionally, for testing purposes, I would suggest changing your 
DEFAULT directive to:
 DEFAULT hello 

With such default, you would at least know whether:
1_ the SYSLINUX boot loader works;
2_ after 15 seconds (according to your TIMEOUT directive), the simple 
hello.c32 module succeeds.

After the hello world message is shown and you are back in the boot 
prompt, you could manually enter "xp" in the Syslinux prompt. If your 
XP boots, then change back the DEFAULT directive. If, instead, XP 
doesn't boot, then you would know that the problem is related to the 
"xp" entry in the cfg file (or to ntldr itself), but you would also 
know that SYSLINUX itself boots. In other words, you would be able to 
narrow down the problem.

Regards,

Ady.