syslinux vs isolinux boot loaderForum: Laptops Topic: syslinux vs isolinux boot loader started by: twoflatfish Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 05 2004,01:35
Since DSL V-0.7.2 the iso image has been changed from a syslinux loader to isolinux. I have an old laptop that I am trying to keep functioning... Hitachi pentium133 chip/1GB hard drive/80MB Ram. I have DSL 0.7.2 functioning on the HD. The last version of the syslinux boot iso seems to have been the 0.7.2. The Bios on my machine does not recognize isolinux so any version of DSL beyond 0.7.2 will not load. Any suggestions for a work around so that I can upgrade to DSL 0.9.x and further as DSL improves? Thanks, twoflatfish Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 05 2004,03:31
That's easy.Download the latest version of DSL and burn it to a CD-R disk. Download the latest boot floppy image (it uses SYSLINUX) Create a boot floppy using the image file, the rawrite32.exe program and a blank floppy disk. Boot DSL from the floppy disk. Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 05 2004,04:35
It seems to me that I have tried that, but was unable to get from the boot floppy to the Cdrom. what is the boot command to do that?Thanks twoflatfish Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 05 2004,05:13
It should find the knoppix file on your CDROM automatically.If your CDROM drive is not detected properly, you can copy the \KNOPPIX\ directory over to your C:\ drive into C:\KNOPPIX and then reboot (assuming you have Win95/98/ME) and the boot floppy will find your "CD" on your hard drive. But since you did this once before with version 0.7.2, I would expect that it is possible to load it directly from the CD disk. ISOLINUX should only be a problem if you are trying to boot from the CD without a boot floppy. Posted by caulktel on Dec. 05 2004,05:23
twoflatfish,I'm curious which Hitachi laptop you have? I have a Hitachi 4140X with a Pentium 133 and 96 meg ram,1.6 gig hard drive, and I have been able to boot every version of DSL since way back ( I think around .4.0 ). Currently I have .8.4.0 on it , but am going to install .9.0.1 towmorrow. I only do hard drive installs, (from a differant computer, then put it back in the laptop) as I don't have the cdrom drive that it came with. Posted by l0st on Dec. 05 2004,09:39
Would it be too much of a hassle to create two versions of DSL with syslinux and isolinux? This problem seems to be a bit more widespread than originally thought
Posted by Delboy on Dec. 05 2004,10:38
Firstly, skip v0.90 if you've already burnt it and go straight to v.0.9.0.1 - debugged. I have the same issue on my newish PC. box - iso's since v.0.8 won't boot from the CD and the boot.img floppy doesn't recognise DSL in the CDrom drive - it may be an iffy hardware problem though. My 1996 pentium 1, 133mhz 40mb ram laptop (no internal CDrom drive) works fine using the syslinux boot.img floppy booting all recent DSL versions (copied to the hda1 partition on hard disk) as 'live' and then HD installing. Long-winded yes but flawless - touch wood. Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 05 2004,18:02
To answer Caulktel: Laptop is Hitachi Visionbook Plus, model 4140, 133 Mhz chip, 80 MB Ram, 1GB HD, and a "Systemsoft SCU Bios for Notebooks". Very obselete... originally came with Win 95. twoflatfish Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 05 2004,18:08
From what I can gather from the various mentions that this gets in some lists it has to do with the Bios recognizing the first few lines of the bootloader on the CD, (syslinux or isolinux). Apparently they are (or maybe it is just isolinux ?) not written exactly to some iso standard so the Bios does not recognize the file on the Cdrom disc. Don't quote me on this, I am no expert. twoflatfish Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 05 2004,18:12
Thanks, but no c:\ drive ...just DSL 0.7 on the HD twoflatfish Posted by caulktel on Dec. 06 2004,01:01
twoflatfish,We have the exact same laptop, however right after I picked up mine I upgraded the bios, now I'm running version 7-9-98-42h. What version are you running? If you can find the bios upgrade on the net, that will probably solve your booting problems. Posted by twoflatfish on Dec. 06 2004,02:25
Systemsoft IT8330G V-1.01.28 (0000-01) I have tried to find a bios update. Systemsoft was absorbed by Insyde Software, and a search of their site was not helpful. I e-mailed a customer rep. about the problem (but I don't expect they will much care...I would be surprised if they bother to respond). Posted by ico2 on Dec. 07 2004,21:09
you could try copying the contents of the boot floppy to cd and making the cd bootable with the boot file from the floppy when burning, might not work so try with a cdrw before wasting a cd.
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