Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Hello Bernd, Thank you so much for all your help with this. I need to practice the steps you list here, and I will start experimenting over the next few weeks. I really appreciate your taking the time to help me. I will try your method very soon on another device that could be flashed -- it is not a mainboard but a PCI Express adapter card. I vaguely remember searching for an ASPI driver in some context from a long time ago, I was helping my wife with something to do with her quite old computer. Bob On 1/17/12 6:22 PM, Bernd Blaauw wrote: > Op 18-1-2012 0:04, Bob Cochran schreef: >> Thanks everyone for all the responses. I guess there is not a how-to for >> creating a bootable FreeDOS CD? That is, it takes fiddling and >> experimentation and a successful method has not been posted to the >> FreeDOS wiki? The point of greatest interest is what files are needed on >> the CD, exactly (including all their dependencies...so if command.com >> has dependencies, I'd need to include those.) Also how exactly to make >> the CD bootable in a "FreeDOS acceptable" way. > Everything depends on what you want. Direct floppy emulation is the > easiest, many Windows CD-writing programs support that (Imgburn for > example). > > 1) Download a bootable floppy image (MSDOS or FreeDOS) > 2) Open in WinImage, change size to 2.88MB or leave at 1.44MB > 3) Delete all contents besides kernel.sys and command.com. > 4) Insert flasher program and the BIOS file (if it even fits anymore on > floppy nowadays). > 5) Add an autoexec.bat that executes the flash program. Only if you're > absolutely sure though and want to automate. This can ruin systems if > things go wrong! > 6) Save the image > 7) Open Imgburn, Nero or whatever, create a bootable CD and supply the > floppy image file you saved in step 6. > > My own requirements for FreeDOS CD go a lot further with regard to > bootloader, floppy contents, detecting CD contents, executing it etc. > Slightly more complex, I'm afraid. > >> I really would like to be able to create such a CD and get the BIOS up >> to date. > See if any of the various responses are enough to help you out. A > bootdisk can generally be obtained from www.bootdisk.img (but those > images are executables with WinImage compression, so you need to open > WinImage, then select to open an image and look for your saved floppy > image file) > >> I deeply appreciate advice on how to really do it. I will fiddle with >> Alain's suggestion, I did something close to that a few months ago in a >> very similar effort but evidently missed some important step. > Goodluck doing so. I'm working on creating a remaster ability in FreeDOS > which has limited use because there's most CD-recording software in DOS > is Linux-based and thus depends on something called ASPI, for which only > paid legal solutions exist. > >> Bob > -- > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Well, what I want is to make a bootable SD-card with that same image... It is a standard isolinux image. Has anyone made that? Thanks, Alain Em 17-01-2012 22:49, Rugxulo escreveu: > Hi, > > On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 12:49 PM, Bernd Blaauw wrote: >> Op 17-1-2012 7:15, Rugxulo schreef: >> >>> You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for >>> burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: >>> >>> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip >> >> Does this work for any size floppy image or only 1.44MB? > > I don't know, but I'm assuming 1.44 MB is what most people use these > days, so it's probably moot (esp. since that's all I've tried with the > tool). > > There's also MBOOTCD, but I don't think I ever tried it. > > http://www.fysnet.net/mtools.htm > >> In principle BIOS flashing can be done from a freely distributable >> floppy disk/image, containing KERNEL.SYS, COMMAND.COM and FLASHROM.EXE >> (though the flash program by BIOS maker or motherboard manufacturer >> might be more reliable). > > He didn't specify any more details, so I don't know what he wants to > put on there or what other requirements he has. Looks like he might > try Alain's solution instead. (I would almost suggest some of my own > floppy images, but they're too old and quirky.) > > Either way, it shouldn't be too hard for him to figure it out. He can > always come ask again for further help if needed. > > -- > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Op 18-1-2012 1:49, Rugxulo schreef: > http://www.fysnet.net/mtools.htm That's a *very* interesting link, thanks!. Bedtime now though. I wish DISKCOPY was able to handle different floppy image sizes (360KB.IMG to 1.44MB floppy for example, or backup a (SHSURDRV?) harddisk image uncompressed). Kinda like WinImage. -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Hi, On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 12:49 PM, Bernd Blaauw wrote: > Op 17-1-2012 7:15, Rugxulo schreef: > >> You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for >> burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: >> >> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip > > Does this work for any size floppy image or only 1.44MB? I don't know, but I'm assuming 1.44 MB is what most people use these days, so it's probably moot (esp. since that's all I've tried with the tool). There's also MBOOTCD, but I don't think I ever tried it. http://www.fysnet.net/mtools.htm > In principle BIOS flashing can be done from a freely distributable > floppy disk/image, containing KERNEL.SYS, COMMAND.COM and FLASHROM.EXE > (though the flash program by BIOS maker or motherboard manufacturer > might be more reliable). He didn't specify any more details, so I don't know what he wants to put on there or what other requirements he has. Looks like he might try Alain's solution instead. (I would almost suggest some of my own floppy images, but they're too old and quirky.) Either way, it shouldn't be too hard for him to figure it out. He can always come ask again for further help if needed. -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Have you seen my mesage from *today* 5:27pm (gmt-2) Alain Em 17-01-2012 21:04, Bob Cochran escreveu: > Thanks everyone for all the responses. I guess there is not a how-to for > creating a bootable FreeDOS CD? That is, it takes fiddling and > experimentation and a successful method has not been posted to the > FreeDOS wiki? The point of greatest interest is what files are needed on > the CD, exactly (including all their dependencies...so if command.com > has dependencies, I'd need to include those.) Also how exactly to make > the CD bootable in a "FreeDOS acceptable" way. > > I really would like to be able to create such a CD and get the BIOS up > to date. > > I deeply appreciate advice on how to really do it. I will fiddle with > Alain's suggestion, I did something close to that a few months ago in a > very similar effort but evidently missed some important step. > > Bob > > > > On 1/17/12 1:49 PM, Bernd Blaauw wrote: >> Op 17-1-2012 7:15, Rugxulo schreef: >> >>> You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for >>> burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: >>> >>> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip >> Does this work for any size floppy image or only 1.44MB? >> >> In principle BIOS flashing can be done from a freely distributable >> floppy disk/image, containing KERNEL.SYS, COMMAND.COM and FLASHROM.EXE >> (though the flash program by BIOS maker or motherboard manufacturer >> might be more reliable). >> >> -- >> Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! >> The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers >> is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, >> Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d >> ___ >> Freedos-user mailing list >> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user >> > > -- > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Op 18-1-2012 0:04, Bob Cochran schreef: > Thanks everyone for all the responses. I guess there is not a how-to for > creating a bootable FreeDOS CD? That is, it takes fiddling and > experimentation and a successful method has not been posted to the > FreeDOS wiki? The point of greatest interest is what files are needed on > the CD, exactly (including all their dependencies...so if command.com > has dependencies, I'd need to include those.) Also how exactly to make > the CD bootable in a "FreeDOS acceptable" way. Everything depends on what you want. Direct floppy emulation is the easiest, many Windows CD-writing programs support that (Imgburn for example). 1) Download a bootable floppy image (MSDOS or FreeDOS) 2) Open in WinImage, change size to 2.88MB or leave at 1.44MB 3) Delete all contents besides kernel.sys and command.com. 4) Insert flasher program and the BIOS file (if it even fits anymore on floppy nowadays). 5) Add an autoexec.bat that executes the flash program. Only if you're absolutely sure though and want to automate. This can ruin systems if things go wrong! 6) Save the image 7) Open Imgburn, Nero or whatever, create a bootable CD and supply the floppy image file you saved in step 6. My own requirements for FreeDOS CD go a lot further with regard to bootloader, floppy contents, detecting CD contents, executing it etc. Slightly more complex, I'm afraid. > I really would like to be able to create such a CD and get the BIOS up > to date. See if any of the various responses are enough to help you out. A bootdisk can generally be obtained from www.bootdisk.img (but those images are executables with WinImage compression, so you need to open WinImage, then select to open an image and look for your saved floppy image file) > I deeply appreciate advice on how to really do it. I will fiddle with > Alain's suggestion, I did something close to that a few months ago in a > very similar effort but evidently missed some important step. Goodluck doing so. I'm working on creating a remaster ability in FreeDOS which has limited use because there's most CD-recording software in DOS is Linux-based and thus depends on something called ASPI, for which only paid legal solutions exist. > Bob -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Thanks everyone for all the responses. I guess there is not a how-to for creating a bootable FreeDOS CD? That is, it takes fiddling and experimentation and a successful method has not been posted to the FreeDOS wiki? The point of greatest interest is what files are needed on the CD, exactly (including all their dependencies...so if command.com has dependencies, I'd need to include those.) Also how exactly to make the CD bootable in a "FreeDOS acceptable" way. I really would like to be able to create such a CD and get the BIOS up to date. I deeply appreciate advice on how to really do it. I will fiddle with Alain's suggestion, I did something close to that a few months ago in a very similar effort but evidently missed some important step. Bob On 1/17/12 1:49 PM, Bernd Blaauw wrote: > Op 17-1-2012 7:15, Rugxulo schreef: > >> You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for >> burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: >> >> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip > Does this work for any size floppy image or only 1.44MB? > > In principle BIOS flashing can be done from a freely distributable > floppy disk/image, containing KERNEL.SYS, COMMAND.COM and FLASHROM.EXE > (though the flash program by BIOS maker or motherboard manufacturer > might be more reliable). > > -- > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Op 17-1-2012 7:15, Rugxulo schreef: > You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for > burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: > > http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip Does this work for any size floppy image or only 1.44MB? In principle BIOS flashing can be done from a freely distributable floppy disk/image, containing KERNEL.SYS, COMMAND.COM and FLASHROM.EXE (though the flash program by BIOS maker or motherboard manufacturer might be more reliable). -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:51:36 -0500, Bob Cochran wrote: > Hi, > > I have an MSI brand motherboard which I need to flash to the latest > BIOS. However, all my systems run Linux or *nix; I do not have a > Microsoft Windows-based system for creating a bootable floppy. MSI seems > to require a Windows or DOS-based operating system to do the BIOS > flashing. Is there an easy way to do this with FreeDOS? I'd prefer to > create a bootable CD that has the BIOS firmware file and *.exe flashing > program right on it. > > I searched your Wiki and the freedos.org site for advice or an FAQ on > this question. > > Help with this is deeply appreciated. > > Thanks > > Bob Cochran > Check whether your MSI motherboard BIOS supports booting from LAN, a.k.a. PXE. If so, then you can insert the BIOS update into a bootable disk image (using winimage or similar) and make it available via TFTP from another PC on the LAN. Then when you power on the MSI system it can grab the disk image over the network and boot it as if it were a physical floppy. More details here: http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Administration/Network-Booting-via-PXE-the-Basics/2/ -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Hi, On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 9:51 PM, Bob Cochran wrote: > > I have an MSI brand motherboard which I need to flash to the latest > BIOS. However, all my systems run Linux or *nix; I do not have a > Microsoft Windows-based system for creating a bootable floppy. MSI seems > to require a Windows or DOS-based operating system to do the BIOS > flashing. Is there an easy way to do this with FreeDOS? I'd prefer to > create a bootable CD that has the BIOS firmware file and *.exe flashing > program right on it. You can convert an existing bootable DOS floppy image into a .iso for burning to CD with the following (DOS) freeware tool: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/mkbiso.zip And you can use the FreeDOS distribution and some kind of emulator (QEMU, VirtualBox, etc.) to format and sys a suitable (presumably 1.44 MB) floppy image. > I searched your Wiki and the freedos.org site for advice or an FAQ on > this question. > > Help with this is deeply appreciated. If the above isn't obvious enough, I can be more detailed. -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Bootable FreeDOS CD or USB Drive for Flashing Motherboard BIOS
Hi. Others have created a BIOS-flashing FreeDOS floppy, so I know it can be done. Might be easiest to create a bootable USB flash fob drive, and boot from that with your BIOS flashing software. Be aware that USB drives often get recognized on DOS as the c: drive, through legacy mapping. jh On Jan 16, 2012, at 9:51 PM, Bob Cochran wrote: > Hi, > > I have an MSI brand motherboard which I need to flash to the latest > BIOS. However, all my systems run Linux or *nix; I do not have a > Microsoft Windows-based system for creating a bootable floppy. MSI seems > to require a Windows or DOS-based operating system to do the BIOS > flashing. Is there an easy way to do this with FreeDOS? I'd prefer to > create a bootable CD that has the BIOS firmware file and *.exe flashing > program right on it. > > I searched your Wiki and the freedos.org site for advice or an FAQ on > this question. > > Help with this is deeply appreciated. > > Thanks > > Bob Cochran > > > -- > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user -- Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
