Re: Problem booting Linux from 360KB disk

Andrzej Krzysztofowicz (ankry@oberon.idk.com.pl)
Tue, 1 Sep 1998 13:52:10 +0200 (MET DST)

> > I tried to create a non-lilo Linux bootdisk with kernel 2.0.36pre6 and
> > earlier 2.0.3x on a 360 KB 5 1/4" floppy disk by dd-ing a kernel directly
> > to a floppy. I tried to use 360kB as well as 1.2 MB drive - and
> > it doesn't work :(
>
> It's in the README in the kernel source for 2.0.2x and later. The following
> is quoted from the README in 2.1.117.
>
> For some, this is on a floppy disk, in which case you can "cp
> /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/zImage /dev/fd0" to make a bootable
> floppy. Please note that you can not boot a kernel by
> directly dumping it to a 720k double-density 3.5" floppy. In this
> case, it is highly recommended that you install LILO on your
> double-density boot floppy or switch to high-density floppies.

I've found the problem and possibly fixed it (sent as separate letter)

>
> The problem is that 360kB drives are slightly obsolete and 1.2MB drives
> can't properly emulate them, if I'm not mistaken. Just because the 360kB
> drive is usable in DOS doesn't mean that Linux should support it.

Of cource it doesn't. But it would be nice if it does support.
And not only DOS, UnixWare also supports 360K drives.

For me it would be very convenient to use 360K floppies as I have some
machines with no possibility to connect another floppies now.

[ And it is convenient for security reasons - no viruses (almost) as users
don't have right floppies ;) ]

Regards

--
=======================================================================
  Andrzej M. Krzysztofowicz               ankry@mif.pg.gda.pl
  phone: (48)(58) 347 14 61            fax: (48)(58) 347 28 21
Faculty of Applied Phys.& Maths, Technical University of Gdansk, Poland




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