wok-next view syslinux/stuff/iso2exe/README @ rev 14257
syslinux/iso2exe: check kernel version, add floppy bootstrap stub
| author | Pascal Bellard <pascal.bellard@slitaz.org> |
|---|---|
| date | Thu Mar 28 11:51:42 2013 +0100 (2013-03-28) |
| parents | 4bb9acf2b1b4 |
| children | 5ed4d6b2d690 |
line source
1 (c) GPLv2, Pascal Bellard <pascal.bellard@slitaz.org>
3 The iso2exe tool inserts a DOS/WIN32 .EXE header in an ISO image.
4 The ISO image can be launched by DOS or Windows :
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.
25 When the slitaz.exe program can't boot SliTaz directly it will prompt to create
26 a bootable image on a removeable media (Memory card, USB stick or ... floppy).
28 Usage:
30 C:\> progname [mode]
32 Default mode is menu. Mode can be:
34 - menu start with an interactive menu
35 - live launch SliTaz in RAM with graphics
36 - text launch SliTaz in RAM with text mode
37 - install SliTaz UMSDOS like installation
39 If the prognam name includes one of the supported modes, the according mode is
40 assumed. Example 'C:\> slitazlive.exe' starts SliTaz in RAM with graphics.
43 Implementation:
45 ISO9660 format begins with 32Kb unused (16 sectors). Some programs may use it:
47 - isolinux uses the first 512 bytes for hybrid iso boot (ISO image in a
48 partition).
49 - tazlito stores extra flavor info at the 2nd Kb for 'tazlito iso2flavor'.
51 The iso2exe tool moves the isolinux boot sector, installs its own boot sector
52 with a DOS .EXE header, and adds a WIN32 .EXE installer, a DOS .COM Linux
53 loader and an initramfs in the end of the first 32Kb.
55 +-----------------+
56 | untouched | ISO9660 files including /boot/bzImage and /boot/rootfs*
57 32K +-----------------+
58 | ISO initramfs | Live loader and UMSDOS like install script
59 +-----------------+
60 | DOS .COM loader | Load bzImage, the last rootfs*.gz and the ISO initramfs
61 +-----------------+
62 | WIN32 PE .exe | NT+ boot device creator / Win9x DOS .COM launcher.
63 +-----------------+
64 | floppy bootstrap| CD-ROM emulation boot driver for hard disk ISO image
65 +-----------------+
66 unused
67 +-----------------+
68 | tazlito info | Flavor missing data for 'tazlito iso2flavor'
69 1K +-----------------+
70 | isohybrid boot | Starts isolinux.bin
71 512 +-----------------+
72 | iso2exe boot | Boot starts isohybrid (*), .EXE starts DOS .COM loader
73 0 +-----------------+ or 32 bits Windows boot device creator
75 * Eltorito boot (i.e. bootable CD-ROM by BIOS) is not concerned by iso2exe.
78 Limitations:
80 - Only DOS 3, 4 and 6 supported. Checked with http://www.allbootdisks.com/
82 - Real mode support only. VM86 is not supported. Will not boot directly, but
83 a removable boot media is created.
85 - Image/zImage format not supported, bzImage only. Can't boot memtest or gpxe.
87 - The tiny Linux loader can't load more than 15Mb of files. (not really a
88 problem since many-in-1 ISO format).
90 - The DOS Linux loader and the ISO initramfs must fit in ~30Kb.
92 - Linux kernels before version 2.6.30 don't support multiple initramfs load.
93 They will not find the /init.exe file. The "text" mode will be forced:
94 C:\> slitaz.exe text
96 - The ISO image must include the files /boot/bzImage and /boot/rootfs*.
98 TODO:
100 - Add Windows boot device creator
102 - Add XMM and VCPI (VM86) support.
104 - floppy bootstrap
106 - zImage support ?