PBM: Dual boot with dos on floppy

[Kerry Brown]

Many are free, but none can boot from floppy

http://btmgr.webframe.org/index.php3?body=about.html

http://gujin.sourceforge.net/

http://gag.sourceforge.net/

I haven't tried any of these but a quick read seems to indicate they can all
be installed to a floppy.

Kerry

 

[q_q_anonymous]

I finally found a way to the solution.

After several tests. I put my BOOTSECT.DOS on the HDD and it works (with
C:\BOOTSECT.DOS in the boot.ini). I can boot under DOS from that floppy with
that boot.ini:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="WinXP" /fastdetect
C:\BOOTSECT.DOS="DOS" /win95dos


The thing is that I would like to keep the bootsect.dos on the floppy.

Is there a way to tell boot.ini to find the BOOTSECT.DOS on the floppy?

A:\BOOTSECT.DOS in the BOOT.INI doesn't work.

cheers> Alex

Here's some ideas, not necessarily in order of how good the idea is!
(worst idea happens to be first)

an absolute longshot guess that's very unlikely to work..

try enabling write access to flopy drive in recovery console
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm

I say that 'cos maybe that will change something and allow writing to
floppy early on in bootup. For example, maybe when you do
a:\bootsect.dos, it tries to write to the floppy drive and fails to for
that reason..

I think that's all v. unlikely though - moreso 'cos you don't get a
write error!

Try a:bootsect.dos instead of a:\

I'm just guessing.

Here's a more likely possibility
there's a chance it's an Active Partition issue so . good luck in
trying to fool win xp into thinking A:\ is an active partition!

Maybe it's possible to run a RAMDRIVE from A and fool windows into
thinking thati s an active partition! Mayeb it's possible to run
Bootsect.dos from a ramdrive anyway!

 

[q_q_anonymous]

I finally found a way to the solution.

After several tests. I put my BOOTSECT.DOS on the HDD and it works (with
C:\BOOTSECT.DOS in the boot.ini). I can boot under DOS from that floppy with
that boot.ini:

no you didn't. I found that! - i'll quote from my post to you in this
thread - post dated March 11 !!

"I notice that BOOTSECT.DOS in on A in your case.
Yet according to this link - which is related to what you're doing
http://www.bcpl.net/~dbryan/directboot.html
perhaps that file should be on C. The same drive as boot.ini is
located on"

I should point out though. It was only a guess, i'm glad it worked!

The thing is that I would like to keep the bootsect.dos on the floppy.

<snip>

i've offered some more guesses, but dont' think they're much good.
Maybe the ramdrive idea(run h:\bootsect.dos where h is the ramdrive -
because then you can definitely write to it. + it looks more like a HDD
so mgiht fool windwos. The only downside in fooling windows that might
cause it to fail is it won't be an active partition though maybe you
can make windows think it is.

Maybe you didn't create your boot CD emulating an A drive properly such
that you can write to A.