CFlash geometry, boot issues ... 16 or 32 heads, no 255 head option in BIOS

[Bryan J. Smith]

Okay, I've been playing with this for about 2 weeks. ATA-to-CompactFlash
converter in use. tried a number of different CompactFlahs I can get XPE
to run off the CompactFlash as long as it't not the boot, so it's not my
image. I just can't get the boot process going.

Questions ...

1. What exactly is the XPE SP2 MBR and bootstrap?
1a. Is the MBR the same as DOS and/or XP SP2? Or is it different?
1b. Would I get the same if I ran "fixmbr" in the recovery mode of XP Pro
from CD?
1c. Is the Bootstrap the same as XP SP2?
1d. Would I get the same if I ran "fixboot" in the recovery mode of XP Pro
from CD?

2. Does XPE want 255 heads? I seem to get that if I use any XP utility --
WinPE DiskPart, Recovery fixmbr/fixboot, etc...
I've used a number of CompactFlash devices and they all result in the same
issue. The BIOS only uses 16 heads (Auto/CHS) or 32 heads (LBA).
2a. If so, does that mean I need to find a vendor utility that will force
that geometry? Is that what they do?
2b. If so, does anyone know anything for PNY or Lexar CFlash devices?

3. Is there a way to get XPE to boot on 16 or 32 heads?
DOS 7.1 (Win98SE) has no issue with either 16 heads or 32 heads in the BIOS,
as long as the partition table matches.
3a. Because things like Bootprep run under DOS, how the heck am I supposed
to get around that?
3b. The WinPE doesn't like my CFlash, it only reports it as a volume, not a
"disk" or "partition" I can select. Can anyone explain that?

4. I always get an "Updating Drive.Open failed on output file.: Permission
denied" anytime I try to run bootprep on the CFlash. What causes this?
Geometry assumptions? (match BIOS or fixed 255 heads?)

5. Is there a way around this with Linux at all?
5a. Doing dd with bs/count/notrunc options perhaps?
5b. I've used Linux to play with the disk geometry (fdisk in expert mode)
to no avail. Has anyone tried that?
5c. I've even installed LILO in the MBR and tried to enforce geometry that
way to no avail (the Linux kernel itself, of course, has no issue with
differing BIOS v. partition table geometry)
BTW, and before someone says I screwed up my CFlash with #5, understand I
have only 2 CFlash devices that I've tried this with. I have 2 other
prestine devices that I have not modified at all.

Thanx in advance for all your help!

-- Bryan

P.S. I'm definitely going to use Linux+dd to extract the CFlash
sector-by-sector when I do finally get it right. Unless someone else
recommends another, more native XP Tool? Maybe something in the WinPE mode?
I just don't know how to do upload as easy as with a dd|ssh "raw" sector
read piped through ssh, but I'm up for anything. Kinda curious as to what
everyone else does?

 

[Bryan J. Smith]

3b. The WinPE doesn't like my CFlash, it only reports it as a volume, not
a "disk" or "partition" I can select. Can anyone explain that?

FYI, when I say "list volume" it says the type is "Removable".
I thought that wasn't an issue if you're using an ATA-to-CFlash converter?
I thought it was supposed to come up as "Fixed Disk"?

Especially since DOS or Linux can boot from it.

 

[Bryan J. Smith]

FYI, when I say "list volume" it says the type is "Removable".
I thought that wasn't an issue if you're using an ATA-to-CFlash converter?
I thought it was supposed to come up as "Fixed Disk"?
Especially since DOS or Linux can boot from it.

Okay, I solved this -- it wasn't a geometry issue at all.
It was, indeed, the "removable" format (as listed in DiskPart) on the
CompactFlash device.

After a 7 day lead-time from a distributor, I was able to procure a
SimpleTech SLCF512J-F.
The "-F" suffix indicates the fixed disk format, which appears as
"partition" format (as listed in DiskPart).

DOS, Linux and just about every other OS had *0* issues booting from a
generic CompactFlash device connected to an ATA interface.
Most specifically, I'm using a Boser HS-2606 3.5" SBC with the adapter
on-PCB as the secondary ATA channel.
But apparently XP Embedded wants this specially formatted media.

Pushed me back weeks on development of the XPE prototype, whereas the
equivalent Linux version has been done for some time.