On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 08:51:54PM +0100, Ethan Grammatikidis wrote:
> I forgot the obvious: Install a bootloader capable of booting CD-ROMs to a
> floppy.
This won't help if the BIOS doesn't support El Torito, since a
bootloader has generally no drivers (except for ethernet perhaps), and
since the bootloaders able to handle CDROM don't see the CDROM but what
is faked as a floppy (not only 3"1/2) or a hard drive (rare) by the
BIOS.
Hence, if the BIOS doesn't support El Torito, a bootloader only on a
floppy won't give access to the CDROM.
That's also why when you start wanting to extend capabilities of a
bootloader you realize, too late, that you are creating another
kernel... and it's simpler to use a stripped kernel as the main part of
the bootstrap machinery.
--
Thierry Laronde (Alceste) <tlaronde +AT+ polynum +dot+ com>
http://www.kergis.com/
Key fingerprint = 0FF7 E906 FBAF FE95 FD89 250D 52B1 AE95 6006 F40C
