User manual

Etherboot User Manual
9.8. Booting other operating systems (DOS, Windows)
1. I want to boot FreeDOS.
The new mknbi utility supports creating boot images from FreeDOS kernels now. See the man page
(../mknbi.html) for details. FreeDOS is under development and if the layout of the kernel image
changes, please send any corrections to me.
2. I cannot boot DR-DOS 7.03.
There is some difference between the DR-DOS 7.03 and 7.02 bootblock that causes it not to boot.
But a 7.02 bootblock works just as well with the DR-DOS 7.03 kernel, so you can substitute that.
3. DOS dies when I load HIMEM.SYS.
Use the /testmem:off option to prevent HIMEM from scribbling over the ramdisk which is the
floppy A:.
4. How do I make A: my real floppy again after booting is complete?
Use the rmrd.com program supplied with mknbi (../mknbi.html).
5. I want to use the real floppy at the same time I am using the ramdisk image of the boot floppy.
The --harddisk option of mknbi-dos is intended for this. It causes your boot drive to be C:, so you
can use A: for the real floppy. See the man page (../mknbi.html) for more details
6. I want to boot Windows.
I pass on this one, as I do not have (by choice) any Windows systems running on my computers.
Perhaps others can contribute to this section. However I gather that it is only possible on
Windows95A, as other versions don’t have the necessary support for diskless booting.
9.9. Hardware issues
1. Where can I get an EPROM made?
Depending on where you live, you might find a supplier listed on the Commercial Links page.
Another possibility is to seek the help of someone working in a university or industrial lab who has
an EPROM programmer. If you are handy with hardware, you could buy a kit or build your own.
There are links to kit suppliers in the Commercial Links part of the home page.
Some high end adapters, for example the 3Com and Intel ones, accept an EEPROM in the socket.
This can be programmed in-situ using utility programs, some of which or information about are
under the contrib directory in the Etherboot distribution.
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