fli4l documentation - Creation of boot disk

6. Creation of boot disk

If all configuration work is done, you now may generate the boot disk.

The command:

`sh mkfloppy.sh` for Linux/Unix

or

`mkfloppy` for Windows

will write (ex.) all necessary drivers from folder opt and the the kernel and root file system to floppy disk.

When using Windows, you will have to start a DOS session and enter the command in the DOS box. That does NOT mean that it would be possible to create the boot disk in pure DOS mode. From version 1.3 (of FLI4L) the programs `mkfli4l.exe` and `zip.exe` , which are used here, are completely Windows programs in text mode (so called "Character Mode Executables") and NOT DOS programs. Therefor the creation of boot disks for FLI4L is no longer possible in DOS mode!
The reason for this are the long file names in folder opt.

The Linux/Unix version will first of all write a DOS FAT (empties the floppy disk!) and a boot sector including boot program to the floppy disk. After this it will write kernel, root file system and TAR archive `opt.tgz` to the floppy disk.

The Windows variant will work in a similar way. It is necessary to use a formatted floppy disk since this script will NOT automatically empty the floppy disk!

When using Linux, you will be able to use floppy disks with higher density.

Do the following:

    fdformat /dev/fd0u1680

If you created a floppy disk format in this way, you will have to use option "-h" when starting script mkfloppy.sh :

    mkfloppy.sh -h

You will then have additonal 240 kB available on your floppy disk.

For use with Windows there are format programs available. Ex.:

- ftp://ftp.tu-clausthal.de/pub/msdos/utils/dskutl/fdformat.zip
- ftp://ftp.tu-clausthal.de/pub/msdos/utils/dskutl/hdcp20ad.zip

The floppy disk has to be formatted with 80 tracks, double-sided and 21 sectors/track

Under Windows you have to start creation of boot floppy disk with:

    mkfloppy -h

Sometimes it may occur that pre-formatted floppy disks will take more than five minutes when booting up FLI4L. Usually boot procedure of FLI4L will take no longer than one or two minutes. If it takes much longer it may come from the bad interleave factor of this floppy disk. In this case the best way to get out of it is re-formatting the floppy disk under DOS/Windows.
Often it is helpful to take away the option "-s" after the syslinux call in batch file mkfloppy.bat.

In Windows2000 you may possibly come to the following message when creating the floppy disk:

"16 bit MS DOS system: drive A:. It is not possible to block drive for exclusive access. It is possible that another application uses the drive..."

Click on button "Ignore" when you encounter this message. After this the floppy disk will be generated.

Another information:

FLI4L will nount the floppy disk in root file system for read/write if variable MOUNT_BOOT is set to 'rw' (MOUNT_BOOT='rw'). Do not activate write protection.

If you want to change configuration afterwards, you will only have to change the file `opt.tgz` on the already existing floppy disk.
Do the following:

Linux:

    sh mktgz.sh             # create archive opt.tgz and file rc.cfg
    cd img                  # move to folder "img"
    mcopy opt.tgz a:        # copy file opt.tgz to floppy disk
    mcopy rc.cfg a:         # NEW! Copy file rc.cfg to floppy disk

Windows (in DOS box):

    mktgz                   # create archive opt.tgz and file rc.cfg
    cd img                  # move to folder "img"
    copy opt.tgz a:         # copy file opt.tgz to floppy disk
    copy rc.cfg a:          # NEW! Copy file rc.cfg to floppy disk

Thatīs all !

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