[syslinux] Can USBstikA boot USBstkB ?!

eas lab lab.eas at gmail.com
Sat Dec 2 07:35:19 PST 2017


AIM: from <isolinux> on USBstikA,
   boot Debian7 installation on USBstikB.

EXISTING STATE:
 USBstikA is TinyCore64bit booter, with:-
 /boot/isolinux/*
  61312 Oct 26  2016 menu.c32
  24576 Oct 26  2016 isolinux.bin
  2069  Nov 22 01:24 isolinux.cfg
  ...

  USBstikB-partition3:
 Currently boots a 32bit installation, via GRUB using the entry:-----
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.2.0-4-486 (recovery mode)'
--class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
        load_video
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_msdos
        insmod ext2
        set root='(hd1,msdos3)'
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
3169ee17-bdeb-41fa-984a-94badd02799a
        echo    'Loading Linux 3.2.0-4-486 ...'
        linux   /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-4-486
root=UUID=3169ee17-bdeb-41fa-984a-94badd02799a ro single
        echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd  /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-4-486
} -------------------------------------

SPECIAL/SUBTLE REQUIREMENTS:
 An important app on USBstikB:Partn3 only renders correct FontSize,
 when booted from deb7DVD:GraphicalRescueMode; and via the ash shell:
 mount <USBstik:Partn3> ; cd <dir> ; ./<Launch App>
 shows the good FontSize and
 cat /proc/cmdline: shows
video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788 initrd=/install.386/gtk/initrd.gz
 rescue/enable=true -- quiet
    BOOT_IMAGE=/install.386/vmlinuz
where: the <kernel> & initrd are confirmed to be on the DVD and
 IMPORTANTLY "video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788" is the secret to
setting the fontSize; which I can't see if/how to do via GRUB.
---------------------------------
Is it true that [critical but hidden facts]:
<syslinux> is 16 bit, so 32 or 64 bit installations are not
differentiated. The DOS 8.3 File ID restriction applies?
-------
It seems to me necessary to confirm that the existing TC64
installer's isolinux.cfg can take an additional entry, for a
32bit installation on a DIFFERENT USBstik;
plus the exact syntax of such additional entry.

==TIA.


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