ISO boot from FAT/NTFS/USB (GRUB.exe, grldr from boot.ini)

[bswinburne]

Hi All,
I have been following this thread for a while, it has been quite a journey. I think these live Cds are a great way forward, especially when they can be place don a hd and boot from iso. I was wondering if it would be possible for someone to post consolidated instructions on how to create a minirt_ntfs.gz for a knoppix distro and maybe even others such as kanotix. An earlier post alluded to what is necessary but did not go into enough detail. I'm fairly new to this sort of stuff but I would like to get envolved. Best Regards, Brian

I wish I would have the time to do that. If you know how to access the inside of the initrd file and understand how to patch a linuxrc script, it is quite simple to update the kernel drivers and other tools (busybox, mount,...) to make a ntfs/fromiso version of a initrd file. But a generic step by step instruction procedure is quite hard to write. It is almost a case to case basis, but I will do my best to provide updates ... Cheers, Gilles

OK, I understand, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Regards

Brian

[cpeter]

Hi, I'd like to tell you that I succed boot Knoppix form NTFS, my PC is Acer Travelmate 230 and my HD (all NTFS):
C: hda1 , WindowsXP
D: hda5
E: hda6 , which hold the "knoppix.iso" image file
F: hda7
G: hda8

You need to boot with Grub ,edit "boot.ini" as a lot manual says, and the most important is you need to replace the "initrd" file with NTFS supported.

I am sorry I forget where did I got the file, but just in this forum, just search.

PS: the file may boot Knoppix up to version 3.8.1, and what I have is a 3.9 image, so I couldn't shutdown my laptop properly

[ruymbeke]

...PS: the file may boot Knoppix up to version 3.8.1, and what I have is a 3.9 image, so I couldn't shutdown my laptop properly

If you read carefully my previous posts, you will find:

Actually my 3.8.2 minird_ntfs file also works with 3.9 !!!
...
So to summarize, use the new 3.9 kernel and iso file with the 3.8.2 initrd_ntfs file included in: http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/Knoppix382.zip

Cheers, Gilles

[cpeter]

...PS: the file may boot Knoppix up to version 3.8.1, and what I have is a 3.9 image, so I couldn't shutdown my laptop properly

If you read carefully my previous posts, you will read:

Actually my 3.8.2 minird_ntfs file also works with 3.9 !!!
...
So to summarize, use the new 3.9 kernel and iso file with the 3.8.2 initrd_ntfs file included in: http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/Knoppix382.zip

Cheers, Gilles

THX very much!

And the initrd file download url : http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/grube.zip

PS: Could you please tell me what's the principle of your "intrd_ntfs"? That will be very nice of you.

[ruymbeke]

http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/grube.zip contains the base PMI files and the kernel/initrd files for knoppix 3.6,3.7,3.81
http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/Knoppix382.zip only contain the kernel/initrd files for knoppix 3.82,3.9 (same files)

...Could you please tell me what's the principle of your "intrd_ntfs"? That will be very nice of you.

As I said previously, I wish I would have the time to do that. If you know how to access the inside of the initrd file and understand how to patch a linuxrc script, it is quite simple to update the kernel drivers and other tools (busybox, mount,...) to make a ntfs/fromiso version of a initrd file. But a generic step by step instruction procedure is quite hard to write. It is almost a case to case basis, but I will do my best to provide updates. BTW I am currently downloading knoppix DVD 4.0... Cheers, Gilles

[emiltcho]

Hi,

I've just downloaded and installed the WinPartion PMI with Knoppix 3.8.1 on my Desktop PC under Win XP Pro there was no problem. I am able to choose and start Knoppix 3.8.1 from ISO the file in my C:\BOOT\Knoppix3.81 folder.

On my Notebook (SONY C1 VE) under W2K however, following exact the same schema there is a problem - choosing Start Grub restarts the notebook after some seconds with only blinking cursor on top left of the screen, no grub menu is shown. Adding and choosing the "OLD METHOD" shows nothing - screen is black (PC hangs?) only reset helps.

What am I doing wrong? Please help

Best Regards

Emil Tchekov

[ruymbeke]

... On my Notebook (SONY C1 VE) under W2K however, following exact the same schema there is a problem - choosing Start Grub restarts the notebook after some seconds with only blinking cursor on top left of the screen, no grub menu is shown. Adding and choosing the "OLD METHOD" shows nothing - screen is black (PC hangs?) only reset helps. What am I doing wrong? Please help Best Regards Emil Tchekov

Could you please try this http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/grldr and let me know ? Thanks, Gilles

[emiltcho]

Hi again (thank you very much for your help),

Downloaded http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/grldr (137 KB) and replaced the "old" one (171 KB). Got the same effect as by choosing the "Old method" - no more restarts, but hangs on black screen with no message/cursor, only reset helps.

Regards

Emil

[emiltcho]

Hi again,

this seems to be a deeper going problem.

I have installed Win XP Pro on my C1VE and GLDR still not work. Other laptop with same gldr problem under W2K, was able after upgrade to XP pro to boot Knoppix from iso without other changes.

Regards

Emil Tchekov

[ruymbeke]

Finally I got the Knoppix 4.0 minirt_ntfs.gz (almost) working !
http://s119307663.onlinehome.us/k40.zip
It boots properly but not all applications are there yet.
I still have a small bug to fix in the linuxrc script which prevent the second KNOPPIX2 cloop to load.
Please be very careful with the "casing" of the ISO path used in the grub menu.lst,
it has to match the Knoppix ISO filename, see my grub menu.lst:
bootfrom=.../boot/knoppix.40/*.ISO (previous knoppix releases were using .../boot/knoppix.39/*.iso)
I will try to post an update asap.
Please give me some feedback.
Cheers, Gilles