5 replies to this topic

[Tsaukpaetra]

This is actually reverse of almost all guides out there. 

What I'm trying to do is boot a build of iPXE using Windows BOOTMGR. I've already got it working successfully with Grub4Dos and Grub (as well as through normal PXE as well), but I can't figure out how to make it work with Bootmgr.

My reason for doing is is that I don't really want to install grub on every computer I want to be able to boot iPXE from.

The reason I can't just use PXE is that I plan on having the relevant computers abroad, and iPXE is used to download the boot images over the internet.

 

From what I've read, I can use a file stored on the disk as "Bootsector", such as Windows XP's NTLDR, but I can't seem to generate a file that is acceptable for this purpose, even though the USB and HD images buildable are about the same size...

 

Any ideas/help would be awesome.

[erwan.l]

Hi,

Have you tried to create a new bcd entry pointing at ipxe iso with easybcd?

Regards,
Erwan

[Tsaukpaetra]

I have, but EasyBCD creates a link to a mbr file, instead of the ISO itself.

The more I look into this the more it seems I have to use Grub and chainload windows bootmgr, like everyone else.

I was initially thinking I could use the Kernel-style build of ipxe, but it just says it's corrupted based on the error code.

[erwan.l]

you can also do bootmgr->g4dos->ipxe if you really want to keep bootmgr first in the line.

[Wonko the Sane]

you can also do bootmgr->g4dos->ipxe if you really want to keep bootmgr first in the line.

And BTW (and partially OT) tis could be a nice use of the fact that BOOTMGR does parse BOOT.INI (limited to non-arcpaths).

I.e. you can add a grub4dos choice to BOOTMGR without editing the \boot\BCD but adding a "bootsector like" entry pointing to grldr in BOOT.INI (at least on plain, local setups).

 

Wonko

[erwan.l]

And BTW (and partially OT) tis could be a nice use of the fact that BOOTMGR does parse BOOT.INI (limited to non-arcpaths).

I.e. you can add a grub4dos choice to BOOTMGR without editing the \boot\BCD but adding a "bootsector like" entry pointing to grldr in BOOT.INI (at least on plain, local setups).

 

Wonko

 

Nice indeed!

Not everyone has/wants easybcd installed nor masters bcdedit command line.