31 replies to this topic

[was_jaclaz]

I'll try to re-phrase :

There exists NO known bootloader capable of loading drivers, exception made for BCDL, see here:
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=18650
that was designed (and is now abandoned) to boot from CD on motherboards that did not support it (by loading the DOS CD driver)

There is PLoP:
http://www.plop.at/e...mngrusblog.html
that has support (through an internal driver stack) for adding USB booting capbilities to motherboards that do not have it.

As said what you want to do (booting from e-sata through express-card) is currently IMPOSSIBLE.

It may be possible using a "kicker" of some kind, the "XP Kansas City Shuffle Method" is currently the ONLY known method for doing so for booting XP.

The same approach may work with Vista, but there are no related reports.

Linux is an alltogether different matter (and OS), most probably you could use the same approach of the "kicker" using kexec-loader or kboot:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=4266
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=4307
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=4636

jaclaz

[lucav]

As said what you want to do (booting from e-sata through express-card) is currently IMPOSSIBLE.

Impossible is nothing.

I have windows xp in sdc, but is not important, mandriva 2008 boot also without this disk.
I have used a usb pen (sdb) with /boot mounted in it.
I have simply configured this in installation fase.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[was_jaclaz]

If I get it right, you booted Linux from a USB pen, didn't you?

Or you booted Linux from the express-card connected e-sata drive?

However I was talking about NT based systems, I am sure that Linux can be made working.

jaclaz

[lucav]

Yes, i have boot the system by the usb pen with grub installed on it.

[was_jaclaz]

Yes, i have boot the system by the usb pen with grub installed on it.

And what has this to do with express card and e-sata connected to express card?

e-sata being the topic?

jaclaz

[lucav]

Usb pen have only the bootloader (grub) and kernel files.
This is needed for find esata drive connected by express card without bios support for direct express card booting.

[was_jaclaz]

Yep , but again, you are not booting off the esata, you are using the USB stick as "kicker", as hinted here:
http://www.boot-land...?...=3366&st=25

As said, it is possible with Linux, there is not yet a known way for NT based systems (exception made for the "XP Kansas City Shuffle" that has not been documented for Vista), and NO solution ONLY using a bootloader, like BCDL does for CD and PLoP does for USB.

To clear:
a. Direct booting:
BIOS->device->bootloader->OS

b. Indirect bootloader booting:
BIOS->accessible device->bootloader on accessible device->internal or external driver (or BIOS extension)->previously inaccessible device->OS on previously inaccesssible device

c. Indirect "kicker" booting:
BIOS->accessible device->bootloader on accessible device->OS (or part of it) on accessible device->OS driver->previously inaccessible device->rest of OS on previously inaccesssible device

a. depends on BIOS
b. on bootloader capable of expanding BIOS capabilities
c. on OS being capable to be separated in two parts, one used as a "kicker" and one for the rest.

Thus:
a. is possible only if the BIOS proveides this functionality (or you need to rewrite the BIOS code)
b. is possible only if a bootloader with needed capabilities exist, which AFAIK does not for express-card+esata
c. is possible and widely documented for Linux, possible and scarcely documented for 2K/XP/2003, undocumented for Vista

In practice:
a. is impossible (unless you know how to re-write a BIOS)
b. is impossible (unless you know how to write a bootloader)
c. is possible for Linux and 2K/XP/2003, and maybe for Vista too

jaclaz