CF booting problem sbc845000vea

[Semir]

I have problem with booting XPe from a onboard CF reader,I tried every
posible option from formating card with FAT,FAT32,NTFS FILE SISTEM,making
FDISK ,then formating ,then BOOTPREP.EXE all sucesfull but still can't boot
XPe from CF. I even tried to change bios disk options from AUTO to
User,LBA,CHS, changed cylnders, head precomp values still no change,changed
CF from master to slave, even tried different values in Target Device
Settings in Target Designer when building images for testing and no
effect.Only what I get is "Error loading operating system" or "disk error" ,
"ntdrl is missing"....
Tried few methods of copying data on CF from external CF-reader to copiyng
with onboard CF-reader with DOS,I even Installed XP pro on SBC84500 (took
all day for install) on hard disk just to copy data in XP with onboard
CF-reader.There is no problem accesing data on CF just wont boot XPe. I
don't have problems when booting DOS or some lite versions of Win98 from
CF,it is working perfectly.Please help CF is 256MB(tried with others) ,board
SBC84500VEA bios Ver.A18.1F.0 (10/09/2003-GXm-Cx5530-SBC84500C-00).
Any sugestions?

Thanks in advance!!

Semir Hadzic
MCP

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Semir,

Try following steps on target computer:
1. Use fdisk and format to make bootable dos from CF.
2. Try booting dos
3. Use bootprep
4. Copy ntldr.
5. Place following boot.ini
6. Boot computer again.

[boot loader]
timeout=50
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS1" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS2" /fastdetect

Please let us know what error do you see in this case.

Regards,
Slobodan

 

[Semir]

Slobodan,

ok, I did it the way like you describe it to me in post,now when booting I
have multiple choices of operating systems like suposed in boot.ini file. If
I select anyone of choices system reboot, I tried to put the rest of the
files and folders from the image but there is no change. Only restart after
any selection of OS.

Pozdrav!
Semir

Semir,

Try following steps on target computer:
1. Use fdisk and format to make bootable dos from CF.
2. Try booting dos
3. Use bootprep
4. Copy ntldr.
5. Place following boot.ini
6. Boot computer again.

[boot loader]
timeout=50
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS1"
/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS2"
/fastdetect

Please let us know what error do you see in this case.

Regards,
Slobodan

I have problem with booting XPe from a onboard CF reader,I tried every
posible option from formating card with FAT,FAT32,NTFS FILE SISTEM,making
FDISK ,then formating ,then BOOTPREP.EXE all sucesfull but still can't
boot
XPe from CF. I even tried to change bios disk options from AUTO to
User,LBA,CHS, changed cylnders, head precomp values still no
change,changed
CF from master to slave, even tried different values in Target Device
Settings in Target Designer when building images for testing and no
effect.Only what I get is "Error loading operating system" or "disk
error" ,
"ntdrl is missing"....
Tried few methods of copying data on CF from external CF-reader to
copiyng
with onboard CF-reader with DOS,I even Installed XP pro on SBC84500 (took
all day for install) on hard disk just to copy data in XP with onboard
CF-reader.There is no problem accesing data on CF just wont boot XPe. I
don't have problems when booting DOS or some lite versions of Win98 from
CF,it is working perfectly.Please help CF is 256MB(tried with others)
,board
SBC84500VEA bios Ver.A18.1F.0 (10/09/2003-GXm-Cx5530-SBC84500C-00).
Any sugestions?

Thanks in advance!!

Semir Hadzic
MCP

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Semir,

Ok now at least you are able to reach phase of OS selection, and that is good since this mean that you have prepared MBR and BPB
correctly.

Reboot after OS selection is very unusual you should have error like some file is missing.
Anyhow try placing both ntldr. and ntdetect.com in CF root. Use the ones provided in your XPe image.

Pozdrav,
Slobodan

PS:
If you have only one partition then first entry will be correct for you.

Slobodan,

ok, I did it the way like you describe it to me in post,now when booting I
have multiple choices of operating systems like suposed in boot.ini file. If
I select anyone of choices system reboot, I tried to put the rest of the
files and folders from the image but there is no change. Only restart after
any selection of OS.

Pozdrav!
Semir

Semir,

Try following steps on target computer:
1. Use fdisk and format to make bootable dos from CF.
2. Try booting dos
3. Use bootprep
4. Copy ntldr.
5. Place following boot.ini
6. Boot computer again.

[boot loader]
timeout=50
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS1"
/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS2"
/fastdetect

Please let us know what error do you see in this case.

Regards,
Slobodan

I have problem with booting XPe from a onboard CF reader,I tried every
posible option from formating card with FAT,FAT32,NTFS FILE SISTEM,making
FDISK ,then formating ,then BOOTPREP.EXE all sucesfull but still can't
boot
XPe from CF. I even tried to change bios disk options from AUTO to
User,LBA,CHS, changed cylnders, head precomp values still no
change,changed
CF from master to slave, even tried different values in Target Device
Settings in Target Designer when building images for testing and no
effect.Only what I get is "Error loading operating system" or "disk
error" ,
"ntdrl is missing"....
Tried few methods of copying data on CF from external CF-reader to
copiyng
with onboard CF-reader with DOS,I even Installed XP pro on SBC84500 (took
all day for install) on hard disk just to copy data in XP with onboard
CF-reader.There is no problem accesing data on CF just wont boot XPe. I
don't have problems when booting DOS or some lite versions of Win98 from
CF,it is working perfectly.Please help CF is 256MB(tried with others)
,board
SBC84500VEA bios Ver.A18.1F.0 (10/09/2003-GXm-Cx5530-SBC84500C-00).
Any sugestions?

Thanks in advance!!

Semir Hadzic
MCP

 

[Padu]

Hi,

I'm new here and forgive me if what I'm going to say doesn't make sense at
all. I have a mini-itx board that comes with a CF slot built in, but no
matter what it is not possible to boot from it. People at the manufacturer's
newsgroup say that only after changing the bios and a series of complicated
steps it "may" be possible. A bunch of people tried and so far nobody got it
right.

Instead, what I did was to buy a cheap CF to IDE adaptor ($12 at newegg.com)
and plug the CF card to my IDE slot. Works identically to a HD. Maybe it
will be easier for you?

Padu

 

[semir]

Slobodan,


After spending two days trying to boot from CF , I realized that my run-time
image was bad!!!!!!! I don't know what happened with it on my development
computer.(probably because I was ghosting my HD on develop comp.)It is
coincident that I was able to boot with that image from HD but not from
CF!!!(partition set to 256 MB like CF).I wonder why there was not blue
screen.
I've build a new release of run-time image and everything was perfect! Sorry
for bothering you Slobodan,but I will have a lot of questions for you in the
future .
Now when I am over this booting stuff, I must realize how to enable
hibernating on my XPe,I read a lot of posts from you on group, but not over
that yet.Is it possible to hibernate the board if it has only APM support on
it? What are your experiences? What is minimum size of XPe image that you
ever build (functional)?


pozdrav,
Semir

Semir,

Ok now at least you are able to reach phase of OS selection, and that is
good since this mean that you have prepared MBR and BPB
correctly.

Reboot after OS selection is very unusual you should have error like some
file is missing.
Anyhow try placing both ntldr. and ntdetect.com in CF root. Use the ones
provided in your XPe image.

Pozdrav,
Slobodan

PS:
If you have only one partition then first entry will be correct for you.

Slobodan,

ok, I did it the way like you describe it to me in post,now when booting
I
have multiple choices of operating systems like suposed in boot.ini file.
If
I select anyone of choices system reboot, I tried to put the rest of the
files and folders from the image but there is no change. Only restart
after
any selection of OS.

Pozdrav!
Semir

Semir,

Try following steps on target computer:
1. Use fdisk and format to make bootable dos from CF.
2. Try booting dos
3. Use bootprep
4. Copy ntldr.
5. Place following boot.ini
6. Boot computer again.

[boot loader]
timeout=50
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS1"
/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS2"
/fastdetect

Please let us know what error do you see in this case.

Regards,
Slobodan


I have problem with booting XPe from a onboard CF reader,I tried every
posible option from formating card with FAT,FAT32,NTFS FILE
SISTEM,making
FDISK ,then formating ,then BOOTPREP.EXE all sucesfull but still can't
boot
XPe from CF. I even tried to change bios disk options from AUTO to
User,LBA,CHS, changed cylnders, head precomp values still no
change,changed
CF from master to slave, even tried different values in Target Device
Settings in Target Designer when building images for testing and no
effect.Only what I get is "Error loading operating system" or "disk
error" ,
"ntdrl is missing"....
Tried few methods of copying data on CF from external CF-reader to
copiyng
with onboard CF-reader with DOS,I even Installed XP pro on SBC84500
(took
all day for install) on hard disk just to copy data in XP with onboard
CF-reader.There is no problem accesing data on CF just wont boot XPe.
I
don't have problems when booting DOS or some lite versions of Win98
from
CF,it is working perfectly.Please help CF is 256MB(tried with others)
,board
SBC84500VEA bios Ver.A18.1F.0 (10/09/2003-GXm-Cx5530-SBC84500C-00).
Any sugestions?

Thanks in advance!!

Semir Hadzic
MCP

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Semir,

After spending two days trying to boot from CF , I realized that my run-time
image was bad!!!!!!! I don't know what happened with it on my development
computer.(probably because I was ghosting my HD on develop comp.) It is
coincident that I was able to boot with that image from HD but not from
CF!!!(partition set to 256 MB like CF).I wonder why there was not blue
screen.

Bad geometry only show errors that you mentioned in first original post. Also it make various problems that you saw in text part of
ntldr boot.
You must not use ghosting or any other binary copy tool to transfer image from HDD to CF.
MBR and BPB geometry on target computer after partitioning and formatting is created for that computer and CF medium. Every binary
transfer done by ghost like programs will ruin this geometry. Instead you must do ordinary file copy from explorer or some other
file copy tool.

I've build a new release of run-time image and everything was perfect! Sorry
for bothering you Slobodan,but I will have a lot of questions for you in the
future .
Now when I am over this booting stuff, I must realize how to enable
hibernating on my XPe,I read a lot of posts from you on group, but not over
that yet.Is it possible to hibernate the board if it has only APM support on
it?

I have never tried APM with hibernation, but my guess would be that you need ACPI compliant computer.

What are your experiences? What is minimum size of XPe image that you

ever build (functional)?

Without any special care and without NTFS compression you can have functional XPe (most vital low level stuff included) in less then
60 MB. You can go far less then that easily. Do you need networking? SP2 made a things little harder to make small image due to
firewall thingy.

Pozdrav,
Slobodan

Semir,

Ok now at least you are able to reach phase of OS selection, and that is
good since this mean that you have prepared MBR and BPB
correctly.

Reboot after OS selection is very unusual you should have error like some
file is missing.
Anyhow try placing both ntldr. and ntdetect.com in CF root. Use the ones
provided in your XPe image.

Pozdrav,
Slobodan

PS:
If you have only one partition then first entry will be correct for you.

Slobodan,

ok, I did it the way like you describe it to me in post,now when booting
I
have multiple choices of operating systems like suposed in boot.ini file.
If
I select anyone of choices system reboot, I tried to put the rest of the
files and folders from the image but there is no change. Only restart
after
any selection of OS.

Pozdrav!
Semir

Semir,

Try following steps on target computer:
1. Use fdisk and format to make bootable dos from CF.
2. Try booting dos
3. Use bootprep
4. Copy ntldr.
5. Place following boot.ini
6. Boot computer again.

[boot loader]
timeout=50
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS1"
/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP OS2"
/fastdetect

Please let us know what error do you see in this case.

Regards,
Slobodan


I have problem with booting XPe from a onboard CF reader,I tried every
posible option from formating card with FAT,FAT32,NTFS FILE
SISTEM,making
FDISK ,then formating ,then BOOTPREP.EXE all sucesfull but still can't
boot
XPe from CF. I even tried to change bios disk options from AUTO to
User,LBA,CHS, changed cylnders, head precomp values still no
change,changed
CF from master to slave, even tried different values in Target Device
Settings in Target Designer when building images for testing and no
effect.Only what I get is "Error loading operating system" or "disk
error" ,
"ntdrl is missing"....
Tried few methods of copying data on CF from external CF-reader to
copiyng
with onboard CF-reader with DOS,I even Installed XP pro on SBC84500
(took
all day for install) on hard disk just to copy data in XP with onboard
CF-reader.There is no problem accesing data on CF just wont boot XPe.
I
don't have problems when booting DOS or some lite versions of Win98
from
CF,it is working perfectly.Please help CF is 256MB(tried with others)
,board
SBC84500VEA bios Ver.A18.1F.0 (10/09/2003-GXm-Cx5530-SBC84500C-00).
Any sugestions?

Thanks in advance!!

Semir Hadzic
MCP

 

[Semir]

Slobodan,

I have never tried APM with hibernation, but my guess would be that you
need ACPI compliant computer.

I supposed that,but my boss ordered 150 of that board (SBE84500VEA) without
consulting, so I am in no choice situation.
I need to hibernate just one time to accomplish "Hibernate Once Resume Many"
image if it is possible with my
target board.Is there a way to do it?

Without any special care and without NTFS compression you can have
functional XPe (most vital low level stuff included) in less then
60 MB. You can go far less then that easily. Do you need networking? SP2
made a things little harder to make small image due to
firewall thingy.

I think that I will have minimum of 64MB due for economic price for CF card
on market ,when I think again it will be probably minimum of 128MB because
of
lack of 64MB CF cards and price is little different between 64 and 128MB
CF-s.(You cant today normally buy CF with capacity of 8MB for example).Yes I
will need networking but I will not need firewall.

Is it possible to boot over network with hibernation image?

When I do dependency check and build a run-time image only with my board
component (67 devices) I get a image of aprox. 170 mb uncompressed!
Is that much?

Semir.

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Semir,

I need to hibernate just one time to accomplish "Hibernate Once Resume Many"
image if it is possible with my
target board.Is there a way to do it?

I do not think so, but I might be wrong here.

Also hibernation and CF do not get well together and that you will find soon enough. Namely if you have 128MB or RAM meomry then
hibernation file will have to be also 128 MB on CF.

lack of 64MB CF cards and price is little different between 64 and 128MB
CF-s.(You cant today normally buy CF with capacity of 8MB for example).Yes I
will need networking but I will not need firewall.

In SP2 you will have to avoid problem with firewall being included while using autodependency component resolve.

Is it possible to boot over network with hibernation image?

No! Hibernation image must be on local computer or BIOS and drivers must make XPe thing that it is on local computer.

When I do dependency check and build a run-time image only with my board
component (67 devices) I get a image of aprox. 170 mb uncompressed!
Is that much?

Yes it is. You should not use results provided by TAP by default, you should only consult this info and decision about what
components are really necesary is up to you.

Use minlogon macro sample component in empty project. Resolve all dependencies and you will have small working image, without the
need for TAP results.

Regards,
Slobodan