Boot file

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Boot file
started by: caulktel

Posted by caulktel on Dec. 18 2004,23:09

I feel that I am very close to getting my IBM Netvista thin client to boot DSL from compact flash. I have basicly turned off all settings that pertain to network booting, and now it is saying " trying to boot from compact flash ". I have installed DSL .6.3 to a Sandisk 256 meg CF card, and I have tested it to see that it will in fact boot from this card in a desktop computer (I used .6.3 because I don't want any problems with Isolinux right now, I will change to the latest version when I get it booting from this one. This machine insists that I specify where the boot file exists on the compact flash, this is done in the bios setup.
In the new versions this is /boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin? What file do I use in the older versions? Which file actully boots DSL? It apears that the root directory of the OS is the root of the CF, so which file do I use? Any help would be apreciated as I have been working on this for at least a year now. Thanks

Posted by mute on Dec. 24 2004,12:44

I haven't used the older version, but have you tried specifying the kernel itself as the boot image? I know you can rawrite a kernel to the start of a floppy and it boots like that. May need to use 'rdev' on the kernel to set the root device. This also probably doesn't allow for an initrd at all tho...
You could also try putting syslinux on there if it is a FAT formatted CF. For ext2 you would install LILO and use it's bootsector which it makes maybe.

What I've done with my laptop with only CF was use HP's USB STICK formatter and it now boots MS-DOS and from there I use LOADLIN. Temporary solution since it's a small CF and I need some MS-DOS tools...