MultiBoot with Syslinux

[Godzilla]

I created a MultiBoot with many things a while ago.

I used CDshell.

Now I want to creat a NEW (not change the old) one using syslinux.

The latest Beta 3.5 of UBCD is using syslinux, too.

So I can use this as example.

I tryed to combine UBCD 3.5 and UBCD4Win and Knoppix, but without success.

Even adding NTFS4DOS.IMA to the UBCD 3.5 didnt work.

So I want to know, if someone could give me some basic-know-how.

A few examples or a HowTo were also very nice.

In future I am going to add Windows (XP/Vista), but first I want to know the basics.

THX

btw: I know kof94 is trying to do a similar project.

[kof94]

Join the party. More the Merry're (if thats a word or even two)!

[Godzilla]

I started a complet new MultiBoot with necessary files for syslinux (like isolinux-folder).

Then I added one option in the menu to boot an IMA-Image-File (NTFS4DOS.IMA; german), wich work on my old MultiBoot with CDshell.

LABEL ntfs4dos
	MENU LABEL NTFS4DOS
	KERNEL memdisk
	APPEND initrd=/images/NTFS4DOS.IMA

But with syslinux it doesn't. (see screenshot from PartitionMagic, but same with NTFS4DOS)

I tried to convert the IMA to an IMZ with WinImage.

Same result.

The original ntfs4dos.igz (from UBCD; english) still works.

An PartitionMagic-Image (PM8.IMA) from my older MultiBoot doesn't work.

Any idea??

Edited February 25, 2007 by Godzilla

[Godzilla]

I think I found the problem, but I don't know how to solve it.

The autoexec.bat of the PM8.IMZ has the following commands:

@echo off

MSCDEX.EXE  /D:banana /L:R
R:\PQPM8\Mouse.com
R:\PM8\PQMAGIC.exe

Device R:\ is started, but it does not contain the PM8-files.

dir r: shows the folders of my MultiBoot.

I changed the autoexec.bat to create another Deviceletter, but the problem is still the same.

[kof94]

Basically findramd.exe isn't doing it's job by finding your ramdrive. Why it's finding your project disc I have know idea though.

There is one possibility...

I've been refraining from saying it but memdisk is crap. I like the isolinux system but memdisk breaks everything it touches and I wouldn't at all be surprised if it's causing problems here.

Sorry I can't be more helpful but these are my thoughts.

[Godzilla]

But UBCD uses memdisk for many Images.

So I think it should be possible.

I don't give up

[kof94]

But UBCD uses memdisk for many Images.

So I think it should be possible.

I don't give up smile.gif

I always modded the disc so I could use diskemu or bcdw instead. I've just never found memdisk very reliable!

Although memdisk does have it's uses. You couldn't pass variables to the FreeDOS image in UBCD without it. Neither diskemu or bcdw could do that.

I've been messing with the switches for memdisk to see if they help to boot some failing apps. You could try the same.

I don't give up either, I'm just really good at complaining .

Edited February 26, 2007 by kof94

[bj-kaiser]

I think I found the problem, but I don't know how to solve it.

The autoexec.bat of the PM8.IMZ has the following commands:

@echo off
MSCDEX.EXE  /D:banana /L:R
R:\PQPM8\Mouse.com
R:\PM8\PQMAGIC.exe

Device R:\ is started, but it does not contain the PM8-files.

dir r: shows the folders of my MultiBoot.

Are you sure that the executables you want to start are on the CD-ROM and not in the floppy image that's loaded to RAM from memdisk. You may want to try replacing R: with A:.

BTW: Something about memdisk reliability. I actually use it together with pxelinux to do BIOS-Updates. The only problem I have ever faced was that the BIOS-Update floppy image refused to boot. But that could be solved adding the "raw" switch to memdisk's boot options (as is documented on the syslinux website), since it seems that the disk was created from XP, and the XP "DOS boot disk" is known to intentionally crash the system when using the default memdisk settings.

[Godzilla]

How do I use the raw-switch?

	APPEND raw initrd=/images/PM8.IMA

Doesn't work/help.

I'm not sure, but I think MSCDEX.EXE starts a device and should mount the files "cd1.sys" - "cd4.sys".

[bj-kaiser]

um, you didn't try replacing R: with A: in your autoexec, did you?

[Godzilla]

No, because after the "bad commands" I can see (with "dir") that there are no PM8-folders on a:\.

[jetman]

How do I use the raw-switch?

	APPEND raw initrd=/images/PM8.IMA

Doesn't work/help.

I'm not sure, but I think MSCDEX.EXE starts a device and should mount the files "cd1.sys" - "cd4.sys".

WRT the sample isolinux.cfg: Yes, that (PQPMA8.IMA) is my own image. I used WinImage to make it, altho I don't think there's anything special there. I took PM8 from Hiren's CD and rebuilt it to remove the overly-complex cruft in the script. Otherwise, nothing special....

Shouldn't need the raw option, I don't use it for PM8. Only for unruly XMS apps. I need to learn where it fits, but then that's why VMWare/QEMU/Virtual PC exist....Jet B)

[Jotnar]

I know it sounds stupid but try renaming the extensions .imz to .zip and .ima to .img.

Cheers

edit... You shouldn't need to use the RAW switch unless your boot floppy was made on ME/XP.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Jotnar

[Godzilla]

I know it sounds stupid but try renaming the extensions .imz to .zip and .ima to .img.

Cheers

edit... You shouldn't need to use the RAW switch unless your boot floppy was made on ME/XP.

Unfortunatelly, remanimg didn' helped.