Unexpected Error Line 769

[eagle0042]

Are you using the sample menu.lst as in here:

No. I am using this one:

title XP setup from iso
find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.iso
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.ima (fd1)
map --mem (md)0x6000+800 (fd0)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.iso (0xff)
map --hook
dd if=(fd1) of=(fd0) count=1
chainloader (0xff)

The text setup loads too slow without Plop, but when I use Plop, i have to comment out the map entries (below) for it to enter text setup. Otherwise, it doesnt, it tells me the selected disk does not exist.

I comment out these lines (because thats what the error 21 appears to refer to):

#map (hd0) (hd1)
#map (hd1) (hd0)

And the text setup went through without a hitch.

Here is where things just changed:

Upon reboot, the laptop boots into the hard drive (the hard drive is before the USB, when I access the USB drive, I just press F9, and select to boot from USB), and I leave the USB plugged in, the USB light flashes, but after 15 minutes, nothing happens, it just sits at a blank screen. If I pull the USB out after the text setup completes,and before the computer reboots, and wait long enough, the computer boots into GUI setup. But, it says it cant find a file, has an option to type in where it is, but it wont continue. So then I tried the menu.lst option that you gave me. Same thing as if I would have left the USB drive in. I suppose the lines I commented out had some kind of affect on the install, but if I dont comment them out, it doesnt boot into text mode quickly.

Sorry if I'm being dense or difficult.

[cdob]

Windows installation add boot code to (hd0).

This may be a remapped device. BIOS, grub4dos and PloP map devices.

Which PloP version do you use?

PloP device mapping was changed recently.

Which grub4dos verson do you use?

Boot grub4dos, press c to get command line.

Find current mapped drives and verify size

'find (' and tab

geometry (hd0)

Which devices does exist? Which goes to internal hard disk and which to USB drive?

Run PloP and repeat this again.

Do you use a winnt.sif file?

Does winnt.sif file contain a section [MassStorageDrivers] ?

Upon reboot, the laptop boots into the hard drive (the hard drive is before the USB, when I access the USB drive, I just press F9, and select to boot from USB), and I leave the USB plugged in, the USB light flashes, but after 15 minutes, nothing happens, it just sits at a blank screen.

Did textmode setup comlete so far? Yes, boot to hard disk after first boot.

If I pull the USB out after the text setup completes,and before the computer reboots, and wait long enough, the computer boots into GUI setup.

How long does reboot takes? Several minutes?

Seems to be another unknown BIOS issue.

I'm used to USB drive plugged in and reboot from hard disk after textmode.

But, it says it cant find a file

Which message do you get?

[eagle0042]

Which PloP version do you use?

I use 5.0.10, and it works. Version 5.0.11 doesn't load at all. The USB drive light just flashes, and the screen says Starting PloP Boot Manager, and Linux z-image and such, but nothing else.

Which grub4dos verson do you use?

0.4.4, dated 03-31-2009.

Normal, without PloP

Which devices does exist?

Possible disks are: fd0 hd0 hd1 rd

Which goes to internal hard disk and which to USB drive?

hd0 - USB drive

hd1 - internal hard drive

With PloP

Which devices does exist?

Possible disks are: fd0 hd0 rd

Which goes to internal hard disk and which to USB drive?

hd0 - USB drive

hd1 - does not appear

Do you use a winnt.sif file?

Yes. It appears to be generated by nLite.

Does winnt.sif file contain a section [MassStorageDrivers] ?

No.

Did textmode setup comlete so far?

Yes.

How long does reboot takes? Several minutes?

Depends:

Turns out, I have an oddball laptop here. Out of 19 laptops, 18 of them are HP Compaq nx6325, while the other one is a HP Compaq 6715. With the USB drive removed, the 6715 boots into GUI setup (after 45 seconds), but displays the error below:

"The file 'asms' on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD is needed.

Type the path where the file is located, and then click OK."

The path that is already in the box is: "GLOBALROOT\DEVICE\CDROM1\I386". It does the same thing if you choose the internal hard drive as the boot device, with the USB drive plugged in. However, if you leave the USB drive in during the reboot, it flashes constantly, and shows only a blank screen.

Now, on the other 18 laptops (HP Compaq nx6325), I get nothing. No hard drive activity indicator light, no USB light flashing, just a blank screen, even after 5-7 minutes.

Thanks for all the help.

[cdob]

I use 5.0.10, and it works.

It dosn't work as for a XP installation.

As you indicated: hd1 - does not appear

What happens to internal hard disk? That's a unpredictable situation.

XP setup may add boot code to internal hard disk or another device.

Version 5.0.11 doesn't load at all.

Version 5.0.11 is the good version as for a XP installation.

Ask the author, if this version fail at given hardware.

"The file 'asms' on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD is needed.

ISO file was not mounted.

It does the same thing if you choose the internal hard drive as the boot device, with the USB drive plugged in.

May be another BIOS issue.

Open floppy image, edit txtsetup.oem and unomment fixBoot.USB line

[eagle0042]

As you indicated: hd1 - does not appear

It doesn't appear in grub4dos, but it appears once you load the ISO into memory, and text setup begins. And I know the drive shown is not the USB drive, as the drive shown at text setup is much bigger than my USB drive.

Ask the author, if this version fail at given hardware.

I'll see if I can contact the author and see if there is a problem with this type of laptop.

ISO file was not mounted.

Is the ISO loaded after the first reboot? Before the Windows XP loading screen appears? I waited 11 minutes while the USB drive light flashed, but no Windows XP loading screen...

Open floppy image, edit txtsetup.oem and unomment fixBoot.USB line

Done. Saw no difference. Where would I be able to see an effect of what I uncommented?

[cdob]

It doesn't appear in grub4dos

That's the importand part.

but it appears once you load the ISO into memory, and text setup begins.

That's the less importand part.

Hard disk is available using windows drivers. But BIOS level boot device is unclear.

You may copy files to hard disk, but first boot from hard disk may work or fail.

Is the ISO loaded after the first reboot? Before the Windows XP loading screen appears?

No, it's not if you boot from hard disk.

I waited 11 minutes while the USB drive light flashed, but no Windows XP loading screen...

Reason is unclear.

Where would I be able to see an effect of what I uncommented?

If you boot from hard disk with inserted USB drive:

Registry settings are changed and another reboot is added. USB drivers are loaded early, this is required at some broken BIOS.

A debug setup_dbg.exe is included at floppy image too. Rename / replace file to setup.exe.

Setup.cmd messages are displayed on screen now.

XP ISO file mounting is at this level. Previous boot failare are another reason.

Added:

Which USB device do you use? Can you try another USB device?

Any USB legacy options at BIOS? Try change legacy settings.

Edited December 3, 2010 by cdob