G'day

Is there a guide that details how to make a boot image that uses hdd emulation so gets around the 1.44mb/2.88mb size restriction?

I have a need to create a bootable disk image that boots dos and runs a dos diag program. The total size of the image will be 12 mb.

I tried creating a bootable iso but it fails as the boot image uses fdd emulation to boot the iso, so eltorito.sys does not work. I'm at a loss how to boot the cd/iso unless fdd emulation is used. If I load the boot image into the iso with no emulation or hdd emulation the cd/iso is not bootable.

I've created on a spare disk a 15mb fat primary partition with my dos boot files, what program do I use to capture its contents (mbr, boot files etc) into a bootable disk image? Winimage? I tried that program but tbh don't know what I'm doing. It is unregistered, so will I not be able to make a valid bootable disk image from the disk I've setup? Is there any alternative program out there? I do have ubuntu and osx installed, can I use dd with an attached external disk to make a valid disk image (thats bootable)? I have not used dd before so if you can help us with the command line that would be great!

Thanks if you can help!

You are strangely lucky , as just recently it came out that it is possible to have MUCH larger floppy images bootable from CD still using El_Torito floppy Emulation.
The thread is here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...oppy-emulation/
it already contains the needed info, though it is a bit scattered along the thread.
There is however a rather neat way to have the max available size here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__27
and following and this one:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__44

OR you can make a Hard disk emulation .iso, quick info here:
http://reboot.pro/3890/page__st__6
http://reboot.pro/3890/page__st__9

OR you can use grub4dos grldr as main loader of the .iso and then map either a HD or a floppy/superfloppy image.
Old "basic" details here:
http://reboot.pro/3963/
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...18045&st=25

You will anyway need to get familiar with grub4dos:
http://diddy.boot-land.net/grub4dos/Grub4dos.htm
http://reboot.pro/forum/66/



jaclaz

hello again,
why not put the DOS program on the root of Cd
and use entery in Autoexec.bat file to load the DOS executable on the root of the CD
as in this link for example.
ps the links in that thread are all dead but there is a zip file at end .where all th floppies are situated
(PS there is a BIOS DMI tool on one of the floppies which is quite handy)
https://rs58tl4.rapidshare.com/#!downlo...E4E2C5D52B5|0|0

it is an old fashion approach but it works if the driver of CD/DVD drive is there.


http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...st&p=104967

===================================================================
...................
Autoexec.bat file
...............
@echo off
prompt $p$g
SET TZ=GHO+08:00
LH \MSCDEX.EXE /D:cd1 /L:Q
MOUSE.COM
\net\netbind.com
Q:
cd ghost
echo Loading...
GHOST.EXE -nousb
goto END

:END
=========================================================================
Regards Ben

thanks guys will look into it.

program lives in the main iso image as its over 12mb and not a self contained executable, so its 12 mb split across different program files.

the only thing that can fit in the floppy boot image is the boot files, drivers etc.

will look into hdd emulation as so long as i can produce a boot image file then it will be easy to maintain this image going forward, if i ever need to update anything in it.

been reading thru the threads, i think this is a bit beyond me - a man has to know his limits.. this is just doing my head in.

all i want to do is freaking boot an iso that contains dos/dos program to run....


i tried looking at those boot images, bcdw and when i boot an iso with that bcdw complains about incompatible bios ( i was trying to test it under vmware)...


Is someone more technically proficient able to post up a boot image file or iso, that is at least 20mb in size for its "drive" so i can simply load it up in winimage and just add my files?

I've tried grub4dos but have problems as well... ugh....

Thanks for the above, I know how to do.

What has BCDW to do with this?
This link (given):
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__27
contains a "super-floppy" image of 36 Mb with no BCDW.
Foolowing are - I hope - a report on how exactly the above image was manipulated:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__33


Following there are some - I would hope - easy to follow instructions on how to make a bootable .iso out of it.

Then here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__44
there is another set of instructions with an easier approach to make the .iso AND a small batch that can rebuild the already mentioned image.

WHAT exactly is the part that is a problem for you?

To create an around 12 Mb floppy image - since you have Winimage - you can use the data in the spreadsheet attached here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152399-on-...on/page__st__31


You want to use either 320 or 400 cylinders (11796480 byte vs. 14745600) x 2 x 36.

Or, if you prefer, in Winimage:
File->New
Select Custom Image Format
Filesystem FAT12/16
Sectors per cluster 8
Total numbers of sectors 23040 (or 28800)
Media descriptor 240
Sectors per track 36
Heads 2
Hidden sectors 0
Physical drive number 0

Create the image as "plain" .ima, then add to it the DOS system files, change the bootsector to the DOS (I presume 7.1) one, and test the image.

In other words, as a first experiment you should use the already made image, then try your own sized one, and this (knowledge on a specific topic) comes to a price, you need some time to study and understand.

Or you could wait for an UNspecified amount of time for the release of the "final" version of the spreadsheet here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/152097-on-...es/page__st__51
BTW you can try using it "as is", but it is not yet tested/verified fully.

jaclaz

thanks guys... anyway i'm pursuing whats detailed here: http://reboot.pro/13171/

Seems a lot "easier" or more designed for my way of doing things I guess.

...and you aptly continued on this other thread:
http://reboot.pro/15784/


jaclaz