Problem creating a ghost Multiboot CD..

[ryeookin2]

At work I use 4 different ghost bootable cds (each 18MB or so) that I've created (they boot using pcdos 7.1, have several menu options in config.sys to load different settings for ghost). Now I've wanted to make one multiboot cd that lets me choose which image of the 4 to load but haven't had much luck.

Thus far since I've used MAGICISO to make the cds I already have and they work well. I then tried using the "make multiboot image" option in Magiciso, after I create it, I hit apply (I see the folders added to the list of files to be added to the multiboot cd). I then hit save (saving the multiboot image) then burn it to a cd. When i go to use it, I get a nice menu and all but any number I choose I get various "raw/emulation" error.. Thinking maybe I err'd somewhere I redid this several times, then tested my images which are good.. so I'm not sure the cause but this approach isn't panning me the results that I need.

My other efforts looking online for free multiboot software seems to lead me to either payware (which I can't authorize for my work to buy) or freeware that looks so complex that I'll have to study it for weeks straight to get a rudimentary grasp of how it works.

So my question is a bit general but to you enlightened multiboot cd creators out there, with my particular situation what would you recommend I do/use so I can create a multiboot cd finally?

Thanks for your time.

[ryeookin2]

Ok so I've read up on how to make a dvd (as I've learned the process is the same regardless if its to be burnt to a cd or dvd) and I'm running into a problem. All the dvd articles I'm reading tell me how to package OS's but not what I need to multiboot (My ghost images that use pcdos). I don't even see somethign similar or I would just start exparimenting and see if I could figure it out. I've gotten thus far:

In following these directions: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=74862

I have no problem and when I get to this line: - Copy all the contents of the XP Pro CD to DVD\SETUP\XP\Professional.

I instead copy the contents of the ghost CDs into each of these respective folders:

CD\SETUP\GhostP2P

CD\SETUP\GhostNET1

CD\SETUP\GhostNET2

CD\SETUP\GhostNET3

From this point on I'm lost (As this looks like its all specific to GUI microsoft OSes).. All the driections I find tell me how to extract the boot files from windows OS's using a script..

What I believe I need to do is place the different boot floppy images I have for the above 4 multiboot options somewhere (place them in the boot folder?)..

Any advice as to what my next step(s) is/are?

PS- I've also tried using: http://flyakite.msfn.org/

But that only deals with Gui OSes (that is not with dos/pcdos uses) so I didn't get any further then above.

Edited August 3, 2007 by ryeookin2

[ryeookin2]

Anybody?

[scotzmon]

I have been able to multiboot Ghost Corporate 'CE' 8.x using a burned CD and either PCDos or MSDOS. I use a fairly low-tech way (diskette image using WinImage - free, Nero or Roxio, dos menus, config.sys and autoexec.bat), but am limited to 2.88 boot emulation. Not sure how you are creating bootable ones greater of 18Megs each. I have a directory for each NIC. Personally I use Broadcom NetXTreme II, Intel GigE and 100 drivers such as e1000 / n1000 / e100 & Broadcom B57 (works for most HP servers and most Dell PCs). I probably should consolidate into one directory as the new Ghost 11 is large enough that it stops me having multiple directories anyway. I believe the only real advantage to Ghost CE 11 is support for Vista. If anyone is interested PM or e-mail me and I can send you my procedure and / or my disk image files that I use to generate the bootable CDs. Then you can fairly easily hack away from there. scott at carleclan dot com.

[ryeookin2]

I have been able to multiboot Ghost Corporate 'CE' 8.x using a burned CD and either PCDos or MSDOS. I use a fairly low-tech way (diskette image using WinImage - free, Nero or Roxio, dos menus, config.sys and autoexec.bat), but am limited to 2.88 boot emulation. Not sure how you are creating bootable ones greater of 18Megs each. I have a directory for each NIC. Personally I use Broadcom NetXTreme II, Intel GigE and 100 drivers such as e1000 / n1000 / e100 & Broadcom B57 (works for most HP servers and most Dell PCs). I probably should consolidate into one directory as the new Ghost 11 is large enough that it stops me having multiple directories anyway. I believe the only real advantage to Ghost CE 11 is support for Vista. If anyone is interested PM or e-mail me and I can send you my procedure and / or my disk image files that I use to generate the bootable CDs. Then you can fairly easily hack away from there. scott at carleclan dot com.

Scot,

My ghost bootable cds are 18MB each. I think your confusing that with the boot floppy image for those cds which is 1.44MB.

If I only could have a larger boot boot floppy I wouldn't need separate cds and images.. but alas I can't seem to find a way to move the majority of drivers from config.sys to autoexec.bat (after the cdrom gets assigned its driver and drive letter.. so it can be the repository for those config.sys files that eat up my 1.44MB floppy size). I've tried getting that work for quite some time with no luck (my best lead was using devload.com.. but it didn't work for what I needed it to do).

Thus I was then left to trying to take my different ghost boot cds (wth 4 different cds I need to combine into 1 multiboot image) and burn them into one multiboot cd (assuming this can be done, I just haven't figured it out yet)..

[jaclaz]

but am limited to 2.88 boot emulation. Not sure how you are creating bootable ones greater of 18Megs each.

that's a limit of the el-torito stamdard, no workaround possible.

Do read this:

http://forum.winimage.com/viewtopic.php?t=2454

Not a "pre-made" solution, but a few hints, since everything is DOS based:

1) you can make four .img files (i.e. RAW disk images, either full HD images or partition images) and use grub4dos grldr as no-emulation bootsector from CD/DVD

http://grub4dos.jot.com/WikiHome

(search for keyword "grub4dos" here on MSFN and on 911CD forum for examples)

2) you can make four .img files (i.e. RAW disk images, full HD images) and use isolinux:

http://syslinux.zytor.com/iso.php

(search for keyword "isolinux" here on MSFN and on 911CD forum for examples)

3) You can use a device loader app to load device driver from autoexec.bat (or command line) instead of config.sys, there are other loaders besides DEVLOAD.COM, did you try DRVLOAD.COM?, see this for an example:

http://vivil.free.fr/usbdosboot/

jaclaz

Edited September 8, 2007 by jaclaz

[ryeookin2]

but am limited to 2.88 boot emulation. Not sure how you are creating bootable ones greater of 18Megs each.

that's a limit of the el-torito stamdard, no workaround possible.

Do read this:

http://forum.winimage.com/viewtopic.php?t=2454

Not a "pre-made" solution, but a few hints, since everything is DOS based:

1) you can make four .img files (i.e. RAW disk images, either full HD images or partition images) and use grub4dos grldr as no-emulation bootsector from CD/DVD

http://grub4dos.jot.com/WikiHome

(search for keyword "grub4dos" here on MSFN and on 911CD forum for examples)

2) you can make four .img files (i.e. RAW disk images, full HD images) and use isolinux:

http://syslinux.zytor.com/iso.php

(search for keyword "isolinux" here on MSFN and on 911CD forum for examples)

3) You can use a device loader app to load device driver from autoexec.bat (or command line) instead of config.sys, there are other loaders besides DEVLOAD.COM, did you try DRVLOAD.COM?, see this for an example:

http://vivil.free.fr/usbdosboot/

jaclaz

I'll follow ou on these leads when I get time at work.

Thanks jaclaz.