[Bug #742] single disk installation

[nobody]

=================== BUG #742: LATEST MODIFICATIONS ==================
http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?func=detailbug&bug_id=742&group_id=68

Changes by: Henrik Nordstrom <address@hidden>
Date: 2002-Sep-11 16:14 (GMT)

------------------ Additional Follow-up Comments ----------------------------
Squeezing all this into a single floppy is entirely possible, using either 
freedos or Linux as the OS booted from the floppy.. One of the installation 
methods we use involves booting from a GRUB from a floppy, have GRUB load 
freedos from the floppy, format the DOS drive, copy the needed GRUB files to 
the DOS drive, then reboot into GRUB to finish the GRUB installation.


Bloating grub with the code needed to format FAT partitions etc is not a good 
path I think.

I agree that having a small DOS tool to install GRUB would indeed be nice. 
Don't know enought of DOS programming to make one however..



=================== BUG #742: FULL BUG SNAPSHOT ===================


Submitted by: jdalcolmo                 Project: GNU GRUB                       
Submitted on: 2002-Jun-24 13:26
Category:  Installation                 Severity:  Major                        
Priority:  None                         Bug Group:  Feature Request             
Resolution:  None                       Assigned to:  None                      
Status:  Open                           Release:  0.92                          
Reproducibility:  None                  Planned Release:                        

Summary:  single disk installation

Original Submission:  Since grub can boot mutiple OS's it would be most 
convenient to  install it in a FAT boot partition, since almost all OS's can 
access a FAT filesystem (making it easier to edit the menu.lst file)

This is already possible, but it would be even more convenient to do this with 
a single floppy disk. Grub can already change partitions, what is missing is:

the ability to format a partition as a FAT partition,
the ability to copy the grub files to that partition and
the ability to create and edit the menu.lst file.

A two disk solution would be fairly simple: using a FreeDOS disk and its fdisk, 
format, copy and TE (editor) tools, but it may be possible to squeeze this all 
onto a single disk (currently out of my capabilities).

- Josef




Follow-up Comments
*******************

-------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2002-Sep-11 16:14             By: hno
Squeezing all this into a single floppy is entirely possible, using either 
freedos or Linux as the OS booted from the floppy.. One of the installation 
methods we use involves booting from a GRUB from a floppy, have GRUB load 
freedos from the floppy, format the DOS drive, copy the needed GRUB files to 
the DOS drive, then reboot into GRUB to finish the GRUB installation.


Bloating grub with the code needed to format FAT partitions etc is not a good 
path I think.

I agree that having a small DOS tool to install GRUB would indeed be nice. 
Don't know enought of DOS programming to make one however..

-------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2002-Jun-25 07:25             By: jdalcolmo
Hmm, I just realized that DOS (and Windows probably too) doesn't allow two 
primary DOS partitions. That means that one will run into trouble when 
installing Grub into a boot partition with a FAT filesystem on it, if it is a 
primary partition (DOS fdisk won't allow that). Extended partitions should be 
fine. Since Extended partitions are hosted by a primary one, this puts some 
limitations on the layout.

-------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2002-Jun-24 22:16             By: frederic666
I have a couple ideas that float in my head about GRUB, FreeDOS, and Windows:

- Give GRUB the ability to load FreeDOS Kernels
- Make a DOS installer for GRUB (Like the DOS SYS command).
- I also think about a GRUB installer from within Windows: You know, when you 
install Windows, the windows installer modify your BOOT setup to make it boot 
straight into Windows. This GRUB installer will enable you to easily reinstall 
your GRUB setup, without the hassle of dealing with boot floppies. :-)

Vacations are coming, i'll take a look at it... ;-)

Fred.


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