[syslinux] Can USBstikA boot USBstkB ?!

[eas lab]

Amazing how zillions of us victims tolerate web-based gmail ?

On 12/10/17, eas lab <lab.eas at gmail.com> wrote:
> Gene Cumm wrote:-
>>TC64 still has ISOLINUX.  The basics are to use chain.c32 to boot
>>USB-B:p3 but syntax depends.  Ideally, it's a modern enough Syslinux
>>version that you can use the "guid" or "label" options to auto-detect
>>its location rather than "chain.c32 hdN M".  Hopefully your FS
>>label/GUID is unique
>
>  sdb3        Boot        Primary   ext4     [New486Xfce]      7593.79
> New486Xfce <- Label per cfdisk
> Useing existing working ISOLINUX entry as template:
>
> Since I will assume that the order of mounting / accessing files is:
> 1: KERNEL /boot/S3P3/vmlinuz-3.2.0-4-486
> 2: INITRD /boot/S3P3/initrd.img-3.2.0-4-486
> 3: <mount applicable root> ,
>  I'll put the new krnl & initrd, in their own dir in usbA: to avoid
> the possible problem of usbB not being readable. from usbA
>
> So minimally modifying a proven entry on usbA:isolinux.cfg gives:-
> LABEL S3:P3:rootUseLABEL
> MENU LABEL video args for S3:P3
> TEXT HELP
> Use proven Krn & initrd from S3P3 copied to own /boot/S3P3
> ENDTEXT
> KERNEL /boot/S3P3/vmlinuz-3.2.0-4-486
> INITRD /boot/S3P3/initrd.img-3.2.0-4-486
> APPEND root=LABEL=New486Xfce
>
> ==> OK ! usbA Boots the installation on usbBpartition3 !! Thanks.
>
> I previously postponed admitting the full problem, but
> usbBpartition3 is problematic, and when booted from GRUB, I need to use:
>
>  linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-4-486
>     root=UUID=3169ee17-bdeb-41fa-984a-94badd02799a ro single
>
> where AFAIK "ro single" gives me recovery-mode and ROOT permission;
> where the single VT-mode allows me to set some env. & call `startx`.
> I must have root-permission, since this Deb7 crap doesn't know 'sudo'.
>
> The final goal will be using "video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788"
>  in isolinux; since these parameters are the only known way to get
>  the important app to use proper <font sizes>.
>
> When the good fonts show [only acheivable by booting DVD-rescue]
>   `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"
>
> indicating that "video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788" is needed by isolinux
> to get the essential good font.
> So I first needed to confirm that usbA, which has a proven isolinux
> could boot usbBpartition3, which has the special app, that needs
> "video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788" via isolinux.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Searching the DVD, for how/where "video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788"
> is used by isolinux to launch the <graphics rescue mode> shows eg:-
> label expertgui
>   menu label Graphical expert install
>   kernel /install.386/vmlinuz
>   append desktop=xfce priority=low video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788
> initrd=/install.386/gtk
> /initrd.gz --
> --------------
> So I'll try to use:--
>
> KERNEL /boot/S3P3/vmlinuz-3.2.0-4-486
> INITRD /boot/S3P3/initrd.img-3.2.0-4-486
> APPEND root=LABEL=New486Xfce video=vesa:ywrap,mtrr vga=788
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> which is a DISASTER: failure by isolinux with NO indication WHY,
> is worse that programming a uProc in hex via a TTY in the 70s!
>