wok view syslinux/stuff/iso2exe/README @ rev 13972

syslinux/iso2exe: add win32 stub
author Pascal Bellard <pascal.bellard@slitaz.org>
date Tue Feb 05 23:32:17 2013 +0100 (2013-02-05)
parents 5b84cc8c4002
children 4bb9acf2b1b4
line source
1 (c) GPLv2, Pascal Bellard <pascal.bellard@slitaz.org>
3 The iso2exe tool inserts a DOS .EXE header in an ISO image.
4 The ISO image can be launched by DOS :
6 C:\> ren slitaz-5.0.iso slitaz.exe
7 C:\> slitaz
10 Why ?
12 According to the SliTaz forum, some new users have problems burning CD-ROMs,
13 creating USB Keys and booting these devices with the BIOS. Others are lost
14 during the installation process or partitioning.
16 The slitaz.exe program boots the SliTaz ISO image with a text menu:
18 - to start SliTaz in RAM (live) in graphics mode or text mode.
20 - to install SliTaz "a la UMSDOS" in the \slitaz\ subdirectory. The easiest
21 way to install SliTaz. No partitioning. No questions.
23 - to create a SliTaz USB Key.
26 Usage:
28 C:\> progname [mode]
30 Default mode is menu. Mode can be:
32 - menu start with an interactive menu
33 - live launch SliTaz in RAM with graphics
34 - text launch SliTaz in RAM with text mode
35 - install SliTaz UMSDOS like installation
37 If the prognam name includes one of the supported modes, the according mode is
38 assumed. Example 'C:\> slitazlive.exe' starts SliTaz in RAM with graphics.
41 Implementation:
43 ISO9660 format begins with 32Kb unused (16 sectors). Some programs may use it:
45 - isolinux uses the first 512 bytes for hybrid iso boot (ISO image in a
46 partition).
47 - tazlito stores extra flavor info at the 2nd Kb for 'tazlito iso2flavor'.
49 The iso2exe tool moves the isolinux boot sector, installs its own boot sector
50 with a DOS .EXE header, and adds a WIN32 .EXE installer, a DOS .COM Linux
51 loader and an initramfs in the end of the first 32Kb.
53 +-----------------+
54 | untouched | ISO9660 files including /boot/bzImage and /boot/rootfs*
55 32K +-----------------+
56 | ISO initramfs | Live loader and UMSDOS like install script
57 +-----------------+
58 | DOS .COM loader | Load bzImage, the last rootfs*.gz and the ISO initramfs
59 +-----------------+
60 | WIN32 PE .exe | Windows UMSDOS like installer / USB Key creator.
61 +-----------------+
62 unused
63 +-----------------+
64 | tazlito info | Flavor missing data for 'tazlito iso2flavor'
65 1K +-----------------+
66 | isohybrid boot | Starts isolinux.bin
67 512 +-----------------+
68 | iso2exe boot | Boot starts isohybrid (*), .EXE starts DOS .COM loader
69 0 +-----------------+ or 32 bits Windows UMSDOS like installer
71 * Eltorito boot (i.e. bootable CD-ROM by BIOS) is not concerned by iso2exe.
74 Limitations:
76 - Only DOS 3, 4 and 6 supported. Checked with http://www.allbootdisks.com/
78 - Real mode support only. VM86 is not supported.
80 - Image/zImage format not supported, bzImage only. Can't boot memtest or gpxe.
82 - posixovl still needs fixes !
84 - The tiny Linux loader can't load more than 15Mb of files. (not really a
85 problem since many-in-1 ISO format).
87 - The DOS Linux loader and the ISO initramfs must fit in ~30Kb.
89 - Old Linux kernels don't support multiple initramfs load. They will not
90 find the /init.exe file. Only the "text" mode will work:
91 C:\> slitaz.exe text
93 - The ISO image must include the files /boot/bzImage and /boot/rootfs*.