63 replies to this topic

[Marietto]

I've created a bootable Free-DOS CD-ROM disk using this tool :

http://www.fdos.org/...MCD.builder.zip

and now I'm trying to boot Knoppix from the CD-ROM using Grub4Dos.

When I boot the CD-ROM,I see this situation :

HIMEM - BIOS A20 method used
El-Torito Bootable CD-ROM Driver for Dos 1.4
Drive EF returns 0800h bytes per Sector
Device Name : CDROM001
Driver installed

CD-ROM XMS/386 read cache
XMS allocated : 0.25 MB,driver size with tables and stack : 5627 bytes
CDRcache loaded as device CDRCACH$ - caching the devices of CDROM001

FreeCOM version 0.82 pl 3 XMS_Swap

SHSUCDX Version 2.1a
SHSUCDX installed.
Drivers Assigned
Drive Driver Unit
C: CDRCACH$ 0

A:\

autoexec.bat
command.com
config.sys
drivers (cdrcache.sys ; ctmouse.exe ; eltorito.sys ; himem.exe ; shsucdx.exe)
kernel.sys

C:\

autorun.bat ;

isolinux (bootmsg.txt ; btdsk.img ; isolinux.bin ; isolinux.cfg ; memdisk)

C:\Menu

Linux

C:\Menu\Linux\

Grub.exe

Knoppix (folder)

Knoppix.iso

Menu.lst

C:\Menu\Linux\Knoppix\

Boot

C:\Menu\Linux\Knoppix\Boot\

Isolinux

c:\Menu\Linux\Knoppix\Boot\Isolinux

Linux
Minirt.gz

I tried to configure menu.lst as follows,but it did not work :

Title boot knoppix from CD-ROM

root (cd0)
kernel /menu/linux/knoppix/boot/isolinux/linux ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it
vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime

initrd /menu/linux/knoppix/boot/isolinux/minirt.gz

error 19 : cannot mount selected partition

title Boot Knoppix from CD-ROM

root (cd)
kernel /menu/linux/knoppix/boot/isolinux/linux ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime
initrd /menu/linux/knoppix/boot/isolinux/minirt.gz

Error 17 : File not found

[Wonko the Sane]

(cd0) is NOT a valid device unless you use the cdrom --init command (which is normally not needed).
grub4dos automatically maps to (cd).

If I get it right you boot freeDOS (loading a bunch of device drivers in it) and then invoke grub.exe in order to boot the knoppix?
Device drivers may play a part in the problem.

This is a "strange" path.
kernel /menu/linux/knoppix/boot/isolinux/linux
type:

kernel /

and press [TAB]
Use autoexpansion to make sure that the file actually exixts.
Do the same for initrd.

Last time I checked KNOPPIX directory had to be in root.

Remember that both grub4dos and Linux are CaSe SeNsItIvE.

Check the way the .iso is built, it is possible that it is created with "wrong" mkisiofs parameters (or whatever is used by that FDOEMCD.builder.zip).

Wouldn't it be much easier to use grldr as no-emulation bootsector and boot from it EITHER freeDOS OR Knoppix?



Wonko

[Marietto]

grub> kernel /

it says :

possible files are : autorun.bat ; cp437uni.tbl ; doslfn.com ; edit.com ; emm386.exe grub.exe ; grub2.exe ; isolinux ; keyb.exe ; lfnxlat.386 ; menu ; ntfs4dos.exe ; ntfsdos.exe ntfshlp.vxd ; Reinst ; script ; shutdown.exe ; umbpci.sys ; wepeinit.bat ; wpeinit64.bat

the right choice should be : menu,but when I write :

kernel /menu_ ,it adds a space at the end of the word "menu" and then it says :

error 1 : filename must be either an absolute pathname or blocklist...

[Wonko the Sane]

try with

kernel /menu/

[TAB]
BUt it probably won't work.
It seems like the CD has been burned with incorrect mkisofs (or whatever) options.

Check the way the .iso is built, it is possible that it is created with "wrong" mkisiofs parameters (or whatever is used by that FDOEMCD.builder.zip).

Wonkp

[Marietto]

grub> kernel /menu/

Error 2: Bad file or directory type

Creating cdrom imagefile fdoem.iso out of directory CDROOT
-o fdoem.iso -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info
-table -N -J -r -c _$ -hide-joliet _$ -hide _$ CDROOT
Using "mkisofs.rc"
Warning: creating filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660.

mkisofs.rc :

PREP="John Doe"
PUBL="FreeDOS - www.freedos.org"
APPI="FreeDOS OEM CD-ROM"
VOLI=FDOS OEM CD


This is makeiso.bat

@echo off

set isofile=fdoem.iso

set basedir=CDROOT

REM boot isolinux

set params=-b isolinux/isolinux.bin -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -N

REM support Joliet (MS Windows (R) long filename support) filesystem

set params=%params% -J

REM support RockRidge filenames as well

set params=%params% -r

REM rename boot.catalog to _$ and hide it.

REM set params=%params% -c boot.catalog -hide boot.catalog -hide-joliet boot.catalog

set params=%params% -c _$ -hide-joliet _$ -hide _$

if exist %isofile% del %isofile%

if exist %isofile% GOTO errRO

if NOT "%MKISOFSRC%"=="" set MKISOFSRC.$$$=%MKISOFSRC%

set MKISOFSRC=mkisofs.rc

set msg=Creating cdrom imagefile %isofile% out of directory %basedir%

echo %msg%

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" title %msg%

echo -o %isofile% %params% %basedir% > makeiso_.$$$

type makeiso_.$$$

MKISOFS.EXE @makeiso_.$$$

if "%errorlevel%"=="0" set msg=Created cdrom imagefile %isofile% out of directory %basedir%

if "%errorlevel%"=="0" goto end

set msg=Error %errorlevel% :

if "%errorlevel%"=="65535" set msg=%msg% Rename isolinux directory and isolinux.bin all lowercase!

if "%errorlevel%"=="9020" set msg=%msg% Please shorten command line, command line too long.

if "%errorlevel%"=="255" set msg=%msg% Please do not rename or remove isolinux\isolinux.bin

if "%errorlevel%"=="13" set msg=%msg% Please remove read-only attribute from file isolinux.bin 

del %isofile%

goto end



:errRO

set msg=Error: Unable to remove existing ISO file: %isofile%

goto end



:end

if exist makeiso_.$$$ del makeiso_.$$$

if NOT "%MKISOFSRC.$$$%"=="" set MKISOFSRC=%MKISOFSRC.$$$%

set MKISOFSRC.$$$=

echo.

echo %msg%

REM when ran on NT, e.g. via explorer instead of from cmd shell

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" title %msg%  

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" pause

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" title ""

[Marietto]

I will explain better what's the situation. The bootable Free-DOS CD-ROM disk contains two drives/partitions :

A:\ is fd0 ; (cd0 ?) ; here the filesystem type is fat 12 ; here there are only these system files :

autoexec.bat command.com config.sys drivers[it is a folder] (cdrcache.sys ; ctmouse.exe ; eltorito.sys ; himem.exe ; shsucdx.exe) kernel.sys readme

C:\ is (cd) ; Filesystem type is iso9660 ; this is the place where I can save my program files

The Knoppix 6.2 files have to be located inside the drive C:\ because there is no available space inside A:\ and because it is a limited floppy image file format. I tried to boot them using two ways :

1) unpacking them into C:\menu\linux\knoppix and trying to boot Knoppix from there

and

2) saving the ISO image to C:\ and trying to boot Knoppix from there with :

title Boot Knoppix from CD-ROM

find --set-root /knoppix.iso
map /knoppix.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)

they did not work. Playing a little with the grub4DOS command line options I got these replies :


grub> root (cd0)

Filesystem type is fat,using whole disk

grub> find --set-root /

Possible files are : autoexec.bat command.com config.sys drivers kernel.sys readme

find --set-root /kernel.sys
(fd0)


grub> root (fd1)

Error 17: Cannot mount selected partition


grub> root (fd0,1)

Error 11 : Unrecognized device string


grub> root (cd)

Filesystem type is iso9660,using whole disk


grub> find --set-root /knoppix.iso

Error 15: File not found


grub> root (cd0,

Error 25: Disk read error

[Marietto]

I'm understanding that the way I want to follow is not walkable. I'm thinking to do the opposite : Boot Knoppix before FreeDOS and possibly avoid to use the latter.
The goal I want to reach is to start the installation of Windows (XP / Vista / 7) chainloading the ntldr file for XP and the bootmgr file for Vista / 7. These files had been previously saved (with the other files) on the first or second partition (because on the first one there could be the hidden / reserved partition created by Vista or 7) of the first hard disk. Assuming that the Windows installation files have been saved on the first partition of the first hard disk (hd0,0) inside the win folder,can I use chainloader with grub (not grub4DOS) like this ?

title Load Windows (XP/Vista/7) installation files
rootnoverify (hd0,0)/win
chainloader +1

Anyway,grub can't start automatically the booting procedure like grub4DOS does,so I have to reboot the computer. Since I don't want to modify the MBR of the first hard disk and I'm using the LIVE version of Knoppix,no grub modifications can be done,so I assume that the Windows installation will not start. Any suggestion ?

[Wonko the Sane]

Marietto, this is the third time I tell you this, doing it the fourth would be a pity.

You are using as "base" a .iso "set" to run freedos after having booted isolinux.

You need to create a .iso according to what you need, not to what is enough or *needed* for freedos.

Booting isolinux in order to boot freedos in order to boot grub4dos' grub.exe to boot Knoppix is, besides perfectly unneeded also extremely prone to cause errors/problems.

Simple way, use grldr as no emulation bootsector, choose correct mkisofs parameters, then:
grub4dos's grldr->Knoppix
OR:
grub4dos' grldr->FreeDos
OR:
grub4dos' grldr->whatever


Wonko

[Marietto]

Wonko,you are like the tomato :)

I've created the iso image,but I haven't understood very well how to boot knoppix using grldr

[Wonko the Sane]

I've created the iso image

How?
With which program?
With which settings?

,but I haven't understood very well how to boot knoppix using grldr

Well, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution AFAIK/AFAICR, and I guess it depends on the EXACT version of Knoppix (U guess there are more Knoppix's and derivatives than stars in the sky.
Some related threads:
http://www.boot-land...showtopic=11385
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=4707
http://www.boot-land...showtopic=10358
http://www.boot-land...mp;#entry103829


Wonko

[Marietto]

I'm using Knoppix 6.2.1 pure,no derivates. According to what you said to me to do (to use grldr with no emulation bootsector and to choose correct mkisofs parameters), this is what I did :

a) created the folder C:\grub4dos
b) copied mkisofs into C:\Grub4dos
c) created the directory C:\Grub4dos\iso_root.
d) copied grldr and menu.lst to C:\Grub4dos\iso_root folder.
e) gone into c:\Grub4dos and entered the command :

mkisofs -R -b grldr -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -o grldr.iso iso_root

an bootable iso image has been created. Now I need to understand which kind of settings I have to write inside menu.lst to use grub4dos's grldr --> Knoppix.

[Wonko the Sane]

e) gone into c:\Grub4dos and entered the command :
mkisofs -R -b grldr -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -o grldr.iso iso_root

I have seen better choices if you also want to boot and/or access something else besides Linux or from Linux.
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9696

an bootable iso image has been created. Now I need to understand which kind of settings I have to write inside menu.lst to use grub4dos's grldr --> Knoppix.

Yep, but "flat" knoppix on CD is no problem just get the whatever now boots the knoppix CD (isolinux) and "translate" the .cfg to grub4dos syntax.
Or use the documented GRUB syntax:
http://www.knoppix.n...mastering_Howto
http://www.knoppix.n...mages_with_GRUB

BUT add the "cheatcodes" you can find in the "normal" CD/DVD isolinux .cfg.

I'm using Knoppix 6.2.1

Any reason why it has to be Knoppix 6.2.1 and not any of the other Linux distro's for which there are reported working commands for grub4dos?



Wonko

[Marietto]

Any reason why it has to be Knoppix 6.2.1 and not any of the other Linux distro's for which there are reported working commands for grub4dos?

Yep,Knoppix can be fully loaded into RAM memory. With it I can eject the knoppix CD/ROM and I can insert the Windows installation CD/ROM.

[Wonko the Sane]

Yep,Knoppix can be fully loaded into RAM memory.

Good , I'll rephrase .
Do you think that Knoppix is the ONLY Linux distro which can be fully loaded into memory?

Or, if you prefer, WHAT is the Knoppix used for?
(There are much smaller distro's which may have all the features you need, just as an example DSL Damn Small Linux, which IS Knoppix based, and it makes really little sense to boot a "whole" full-fledged distro to run a bunch of commands)


Wonko

[Marietto]

I tried it,but I found it uncomfortable. I preferred to study how to remaster Knoppix rather than using DSL.
What do you mean for "flat" knoppix on CD ?

[Wonko the Sane]

I tried it,but I found it uncomfortable. I preferred to study how to remaster Knoppix rather than using DSL.
What do you mean for "flat" knoppix on CD ?

READ the given links on remastering Knoppix (the actual thing you just said you have studied) and how the structure should be, that's a "flat" directory layout.
http://www.knoppix.n...Helpful_Scripts


Wonko

[Marietto]

This is in details what I did :

1) I changed the parameters of mkisofs inside the makeiso.bat script with mine :

set params=-b grldr -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4
set params=%params% -R

2) I copied the folder KNOPPIX inside \CDROOT

3) I copied /boot off the Knoppix cd to \CDBTDSK folder and renamed it to boot.knoppix

4) I copied grldr (should it be hidden or not ?) to \CDROOT

5) I created this menu.lst and I copied it to \CDROOT

title KNOPPIX

root (fd0)

kernel /boot.knoppix/isolinux/linux ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime

initrd /boot.knoppix/isolinux/minirt.gz

and I created the ISO image using the script makeiso.bat modified by me. The problem right now is that it isn't bootable.

[Wonko the Sane]

1) I changed the parameters of mkisofs inside the makeiso.bat script with mine :

set params=-b grldr -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4
set params=%params% -R

Which, as already said, are "generic" parameters that may (or may completely fail ) to work.
Particularly the -R is NOT a good idea.
Again, READ the given thread:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9696

AGAIN, read the existing reference on how to create a Knoppix CD:
http://www.knoppix.n...wto#Live_CD_ISO

and use it "as is" first, and then obviously replacing the isolinux.bin with grub4dos (and nothing else)

3) I copied /boot off the Knoppix cd to \CDBTDSK folder and renamed it to boot.knoppix

Why?
Are you now installing to hard disk as in the example?
Another attempt to introduce a variation without knowing the reasons why the folder is called "boot" and NOT "boot.knoppix" (and not a lot of other thing, like "goofy" or "mickey mouse")?

5) I created this menu.lst and I copied it to \CDROOT
title KNOPPIX
root (fd0)
kernel /boot.knoppix/isolinux/linux ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime
initrd /boot.knoppix/isolinux/minirt.gz

and I created the ISO image using the script makeiso.bat modified by me. The problem right now is that it isn't bootable.

Are you using a floppy ? What do you think does (fd0) represent?

You should learn to do things in steps, little by little and choosing the variations you do to known steps wisely.

First step:
recreate a bootable Knoppix .iso:

mkisofs -pad -l -r -J -v -V "KNOPPIX" -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4   -boot-info-table -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat  -hide-rr-moved -o /mnt/hda1/knx/knoppix.iso /mnt/hda1/knx/master

Second step:
try recreating the same BUT using grldr instead of isolinux:

mkisofs -pad -l -r -J -v -V "KNOPPIX" -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4  -boot-info-table -b boot/isolinux/grldr -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat -hide-rr-moved -o /mnt/hda1/knx/knoppix.iso /mnt/hda1/knx/master

(change the paths according to your source,or, better, change your source according to the paths used)

When a device boots it is ALREADY root.

Use Command line in grub4dos BEFORE attempting a menu.lst:

kernel /boot/isolinux/linux ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime

initrd /boot/isolinux/minirt.gz

Third step:
once the above works, introduce other changes, one by one or a few at the time.


Wonko

[Marietto]

Before to follow again this way,I've tried another solution. I've read that Grub4dos can run from linux using kexec and then I tried to do it with Knoppix 6.2.1 (booted with these parameters : knoppix 2 toram lang=it) . Since I want to start the installation of Windows 7 from it,I've saved the installation files on /dev/sda2 = (hd0,1)/winzozz and I've gone into my usb key and I did :

root@Microknoppix:/mnt/sdb1/grub4dos/grub4dos-0.4.4-2009-06-20/kexec -l grub.exe --command-line="chainloader (hd0,1)/winzozz/bootmgr"
kexec -e

it says :

Starting new kernel

and then it freezes for some time and it reboots. Kernel version I'm using is 2.6.32.6 and the grub4dos version which I have tried is 0.4.4-2009-06-20

[Wonko the Sane]

I've tried another solution.

That is not a "solution", it is another (different ) "method" to ask for trouble, grub4dos functionalities for booting a Windows system once loaded from linux kexec are shaky at best.

Compare:
http://www.boot-land...?...c=11785&hl=
http://www.boot-land...?...c=12126&hl=


Wonko

[Marietto]

It was only an attempt. I agree with you.

[Marietto]

Ok. I tried ANOTHER way again :) This is what I did this time :

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda : 320 GB

Device Boot Start End Blocks System

/dev/sda1 * 1 13 102400 NTFS
/dev/sda2 13 19000 152513536 NTFS
/dev/sda3 19001 30913 159951172 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb : 2031 MB

Device Boot Start End Blocks System

/dev/sdb1 * 1 246 1975963+ FAT32

cd /mnt/sda2
mkdir winzozz
cd /mnt/cdrom
copy -r -f * /mnt/sda2/winzozz
cd /mnt/sdb1
cp grldr /mnt/sda2
cp menu.lst /mnt/sda2

this is menu.lst

title Start the installation of Windows 7
root (hd0,1)
chainloader (hd0,1)/winzozz/bootmgr

./bootlace.com /dev/sda

--> Disc geometry calculated according to the partition table :

Sectors per track = 63 ; number of heads : 255

Success. When I reboot the computer the installation of Windows 7 does not start,it says :

booting NTLDR :

Windows failed to start : File \Boot\BCD ; Status : 0xc000000f : An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

[Wonko the Sane]

Good , now you have explored three of the non-working ways to have the whatever you are doing working, now only 99.997 of the estimated 100,000 remain.


Wonko

[Marietto]

Thanks Wonko,I've been able to boot Knoppix from FreeDOS. I explain what I did :

1) I removed the parameter -R inside the makeiso.bat script.

2) I created a folder named knoppix to the root of the cd/rom and inside it I copied the subfolders boot and KNOPPIX.

3) copied grldr to the root of the Cd / rom

4) I've configured menu.lst like this :

title Knoppix
kernel /KNOPPIX/BOOT/ISOLINUX/LINUX. ramdisk_size=100000 2 toram lang=it vt.default_utf8=0 apm=power-off vga=791 nomce quiet loglevel=0 tz=localtime
initrd /KNOPPIX/BOOT/ISOLINUX/MINIRT.GZ

Now was born another problem,not directly related to grub4dos,I think. As soon as Knoppix boots,it says :

Knoppix 6 found at : /dev/sr0
copying data,press space to skip

Insmod : can't open '/mnt-system/KNOPPIX/modules/cloop.ko" : no such file or directory
Could not mount /mnt-system/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX. Starting debuggin Shell..

I don't understand,I rebuilt the ISO image of Knoppix a lot of times,but it never worked.

[Wonko the Sane]

I don't understand,I rebuilt the ISO image of Knoppix a lot of times,but it never worked.

With WHICH mkisofs parameters?

Insmod : can't open '/mnt-system/KNOPPIX/modules/cloop.ko" : no such file or directory
Could not mount /mnt-system/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX. Starting debuggin Shell..

Does file /KNOPPIX/modules/cloop.ko exist on CD?
Does file /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX exist on CD?

I removed the parameter -R inside the makeiso.bat script.

Perfect . How is the whatever that may need RockRidge supposed to navigate the CD filesystem?


Wonko