OS2 World Community Forum

OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical => Setup & Installation => Topic started by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 19, 2014, 09:15:24 am

Title: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 19, 2014, 09:15:24 am
Hi,

I am getting closer with "my" OS/4 DVD. I made a bootable DVD and tried to include the QSINIT Loader. The boot process does stuck now at this point (from my documentation):

https://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.os2.org%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D2%26t%3D117%26start%3D25%23p1825 (https://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.os2.org%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D2%26t%3D117%26start%3D25%23p1825)

EDIT: May it be that QSINIT.LDI is on the DVD a "Read only file" and can therefore not been unzipped during boot? Just a shot in the dark...

Help is appreciated! Thanks in Advance!
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 19, 2014, 05:33:00 pm
My experience in making bootable OS/2 CDs and DVDs is that you can't have anything that needs to be unpaked or unziped during the initial boot process.

Using memboot requires that the packed files are unpacked into memory before they can be used and all those files are in an unpacked state. 

It would therefore appear that you need to unzip the QSINIT file and the include that in your disk3.pf (the one that contains all the odd extra files required at boot time).
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 19, 2014, 07:36:53 pm
My experience in making bootable OS/2 CDs and DVDs is that you can't have anything that needs to be unpaked or unziped during the initial boot process.

Using memboot requires that the packed files are unpacked into memory before they can be used and all those files are in an unpacked state. 

It would therefore appear that you need to unzip the QSINIT file and the include that in your disk3.pf (the one that contains all the odd extra files required at boot time).

Hi Ivan,

Thank you very much. But how can I do this exactly -what do I need to do

- to open disk3.pf
- how the include the files
- how to close the pf file again?
- where is disk3.pf located?

Do I need a special program or what kinds of commands for this?

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 20, 2014, 01:11:32 am
First thing, get a copy of Hayo Baan's bootable http://hrbaan.home.xs4all.nl/bootAble/ and Veit's memdisk http://kannegieser.net/veit (this is listed together with loaddll, tar and untar in the bootable readme).

I got my basic knowledge of using memboot from reading the demo.cmd from memboot and the bootable.cmd from bootable.

I use four .pf files (disk0.pf, disk1.pf, disk2.pf and disk3.pf.  Disk 0 and 1 are the OS/2 boot floppies (disk0-1 and disk2) disk2 are support files that allow me to format disks etc. (virtually disk3 of the OS/2 disk images disks) and disk3 is a catch all for those files that may be needed but get updated frequently.

If, after you have read the memboot documentation, you still need step by step instructions send me a PM and I will dig out my notes for you.  I say this because it is much better that you try for yourself because what I do may not be exactly what you want. 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 20, 2014, 07:40:49 am
EDIT: May it be that QSINIT.LDI is on the DVD a "Read only file" and can therefore not been unzipped during boot? Just a shot in the dark...
Something wrong with diskette access (emulated diskette, this can cause troubles :) ).
Can you try this OS2LDR build (ftp://212.12.30.18/public/QS/Archive/OS2LDR_289V) (same revision, as yours, but verbose) and post screen to somewhere.
(or just e-mail me to the address at the end of QSINIT readme ;) )
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 20, 2014, 11:43:23 am
Or you can try last (today's) version  - I made some fixes in floppy detection, to let it ignore errors in emulation :)
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 20, 2014, 02:15:31 pm
Or you can try last (today's) version  - I made some fixed in floppy detection, to let it ignore errors in emulation :)

Thank you very much, I will give it a try this evening (ASAP)!

 :)
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 20, 2014, 06:22:38 pm
Update: sorry, the same result with 289 and 291, same error message. Forgot to look at the 289 screen message and have to do it again. will post it later this evening.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 20, 2014, 06:30:49 pm
Update: sorry, the same result with 289 and 291, same error message.
Is there some new lines on screen with verbose 289 build?
Or, can you send me image file of first diskette?
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 20, 2014, 08:26:08 pm
Update: sorry, the same result with 289 and 291, same error message.
Is there some new lines on screen with verbose 289 build?
Or, can you send me image file of first diskette?

Here is the picture:

First diskette: sorry what do you mean, \os2image\disk_0 or bootimage? Thanks!

Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 20, 2014, 10:09:01 pm
Regarding the disk image.  If you are using updcd to construct your DVD it will be the disk0-1 that is created to be used for the memboot.

You really do need to get a copy of bootable and memboot to see just how memboot is used to make a boot CD.

I have used updcd to create updated versions of OS/2 which I then manually manipulate to produce CDs and DVDs to allow me to do such things as maintain our servers, troubleshoot our test computers and restore boot disk images.

When I get time (I have a couple of technical manuals that must be ready for the publisher before the end of the month) I will try and produce a CD that will use memboot using QSINIT loader in place of OS2LDR.  I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work but you will most probably have to manually include it in the disk image the CD/DVD boots from - as far as I remember updcd won't do things like that for you.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 20, 2014, 10:33:50 pm
Here is the picture:
Hm, you use memboot, it creates "pseudo-hdd" and something going wrong...
I will try to make simple memboot disk and check what it is.

p.s. checked it and it works :)
You can try "3a.ISO" in public dir of QSINIT ftp - it creates 16Mb MEMDISK and boot to cmd.exe.
So, may be QSINIT.LDI is missing in script for memdisk archives?
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 21, 2014, 01:31:14 am
Regarding the disk image.  If you are using updcd to construct your DVD it will be the disk0-1 that is created to be used for the memboot.

You really do need to get a copy of bootable and memboot to see just how memboot is used to make a boot CD.

I have used updcd to create updated versions of OS/2 which I then manually manipulate to produce CDs and DVDs to allow me to do such things as maintain our servers, troubleshoot our test computers and restore boot disk images.

When I get time (I have a couple of technical manuals that must be ready for the publisher before the end of the month) I will try and produce a CD that will use memboot using QSINIT loader in place of OS2LDR.  I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work but you will most probably have to manually include it in the disk image the CD/DVD boots from - as far as I remember updcd won't do things like that for you.

Hi Ivan, thanks for this but I will first wait if walking_x can achieve something as I do have no clue about memboot and bootable - I just use the UPDCD inbuild and the hints about "PACK2".

EDIT: you infected me with the memboot virus  ;) so I will have a closer look at this as well  :) 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 21, 2014, 12:59:49 pm
Regarding the disk image.  If you are using updcd to construct your DVD it will be the disk0-1 that is created to be used for the memboot.

Hi Ivan,

and where is this disk0_1 located, please? Thanks!
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 21, 2014, 01:43:33 pm
Sorry about the memboot infestation but for what you want to do you need to know about it.

I don't have a computer here with updcd on it but from memory (it has been a couple of years since I last used it) the updated boot disks only appear in the temp dir and are deleted when it creates a CD image.  When I first used it I paused the create process and had a look at what was in the temp dir and made adjustments as necessary.

I see that walking_x has given this a test and it works (renaming QSINIT to OS2LDR and including OS2LDR.INI).

It appears that you are now at the position I was a few years ago with creating non standard CD/DVDs of OS/2 which caused me to learn about memdisk to produce no-emulation-boot CD/DVDs.  With the work being done on the OS4 kernel, QSINIT, USB and a few other things, it appears that I will have to produce my own updated, enhanced DVD (I already have over 1GB of bits to add to the basic install).
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 21, 2014, 02:49:35 pm
Sorry about the memboot infestation but for what you want to do you need to know about it.

I don't have a computer here with updcd on it but from memory (it has been a couple of years since I last used it) the updated boot disks only appear in the temp dir and are deleted when it creates a CD image.  When I first used it I paused the create process and had a look at what was in the temp dir and made adjustments as necessary.

I see that walking_x has given this a test and it works (renaming QSINIT to OS2LDR and including OS2LDR.INI).

It appears that you are now at the position I was a few years ago with creating non standard CD/DVDs of OS/2 which caused me to learn about memdisk to produce no-emulation-boot CD/DVDs.  With the work being done on the OS4 kernel, QSINIT, USB and a few other things, it appears that I will have to produce my own updated, enhanced DVD (I already have over 1GB of bits to add to the basic install).

Hi Ivan,
If you follow my thread at the German OS/2 forum you will see that this is exactly what I am doing - I pause updcd and pack the files during thos phase - what is already working for os2ahci in example. I have to dig more there, thanks again.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 21, 2014, 06:46:06 pm
Hi Sigurd,

There are two sets of disk images that you have to be concerned with, those in the os2image directory and those in the diskimgs directory. 

The ones in the os2image dir are the ones that you can add packed files to, which is what I am assuming you are doing.  Those in the diskimgs dir are the images used to boot the CD/DVD.  Although they are a standard diskimage file (you can make a floppy disk from them) non of the files used for booting in there are packed, zipped or compressed in any way because there is nothing at that stage of the boot that can uncompress them.  Unfortunately updcd creates these image files before you pause the process. 

The only way to change them is to open then in a v-floppy, unless you have a floppy drive available and several spare floppies, change what you need to and then convert that floppy back to an image - or use memboot which allows better manipulation of what is there (use e_pf.exe from memboot to open the  .pf files in the bootimgs dir of your eCS CD to get some idea of what can be used there - for example, all of the *.BIO files in disk_0 are no longer used). 
 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 22, 2014, 08:12:39 am
Hi Ivan,
Hi Walking_X,

this have been my next steps:

- updated the in UPDCD2.61 included memboot files (dated 2006) with those from 2009
- builded based on this the new DVD files
- changed the config.sys
- copied the from QSINIT291 needed files and more to \OS2IMAGE\DISK_0 and packed them
-> so here everything as before

then I used e_pf.exe to look into the \UPDCD\BURN\BOOTIMGS\BOOTDISK.PF
- the files that I packed and copied before are not included. That proofs that the steps before (copying to DISK_0) did not add something to bootdisk.pf, so what you already said is allright and I am able to follow these steps  ;)

I guess that UPDCD when booting the DVD "just" takes averything that is inside BOOTDISK.PF into MEMDISK.PF.
It boots the files from DISK_0 but in memory there are the files of BOOTDISK.PF - so

-> QSLoader is started from the root of the DVD (named OS2LDR)
-> Does QSLoader expects to find QSINIT.LDI in the root of the DVD or in the "Memory Drive" Z: ?
-> to proof this I copied the QSINIT.LDI file into the root directory of the DVD, so in \UPDCD\BURN
-> to get in Memory Drive Z: I gues I have to include it in Bootdisk.PF

Therefore I copied the files that I copied before to DISK_0 to the extracted BOOTDISK.PF Directory.
No I would like to pack this Directory back or convert it in the BOOTDISK.PF file format.

Do you know what I have to do (wich command from memdisk) to achieve this?

Thank you in advance!!

Sigurd
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 22, 2014, 11:57:48 am
Hi Sigurd,

You use Packfile.exe <script-file-name> to make a .pf file.

Read the packfile.txt in the memboot\doc dir to get an idea about how to create the needed script file.  Don't forget to add the pointer to the next .pf file if you are using more than one.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 22, 2014, 12:48:11 pm
In no-emulation-boot mode - both QSINIT (named as OS2LDR) and QSINIT.LDI must be in the root of memdisk (at least I made it this way in my test).
OS2LDR.INI is optional.

But, QSINIT has another one questionable feature ;) It detects "OS/2 boot mode" on FAT by presence of OS2BOOT file in the same root. If file missing - "QSINIT without OS/2" assumed (on FAT or FAT32) and own "Apps Menu" (green) will be opened.
So if OS2BOOT missing on ramdisk - you can create a small one in text editor (with some spaces inside) - it not required for boot, but acts as a "flag".
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Alex Taylor on September 22, 2014, 01:30:21 pm
Hi Sigurd,

When you extract a PF file with E_PF, the current script for that file is dumped to STDOUT.  So if you redirect that to a file, you will have a pre-made script for recreating the PF file with PACKFILE.  (Of course, you'll generally need to modify it a bit to handle any changes you made to the contents.)

Also, I've sent you a PM.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 22, 2014, 02:12:41 pm
Hi Alex,
Ivan,
Walking_X

thank you very much for your hints and contribution - it is really appreciated!!

As it seemed to be to hard for me to get used to memboot and the .pf files I was thinking about the process of UPDCD. It came to my mind that - if UPDCD produces a bootdisk.pf - there must be a script bootdisk.scr somewhere.
But I was not able to find it in the UPDCD directory.
Therefore I looked into the UPDCD.LOG of my last attempt and searched for bootdisk.
And yes - I found some lines regarding this.  :D

It turned out that UPDCD produces the bootdisk.scr only for a short duration of time, pointing from there to the \tmp directory, that is as well only there for a short time in \UPDCD\BURN\BOOTIMGS - just to build the BOOTDISK.PF - and then both will be automatically deleted by the program.

I rememberd the way I took to change and modify the config.sys - (please see my thread at the german forum) - by adding a 'pause' command in the \UPDCD\LIB\updif.rlb - so I looked for the part, right before the bootdiskfiles are copied from the tmp directory.

So the program stopped as I wanted and I then copied the files I wanted to add to the \tmp directory and then continued the UPDCD process. Later I did as before as well - copying the files to DISK_0 and packed them, to complete the procedure.

So, I do have a new DVD now - I will burn it and give it a try! 

Let's see if this brings me one step ahead or...

@Walking_X: OS2BOOT is already inlcuded in the bootdisk.pf by UPDCD - I checked it.

 8)

EDIT: No - still the same error message..... I checked the bootdisk.pf -> extracted it with e_pf.exe -> the files QSINIT.LDI and so on are all included, so the way I packed them into the bootdisk.pf did work, but still there is something missing....
Will check later.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 22, 2014, 05:01:39 pm
Hi Sigurd,

Could you post a list of the files in your bootdisk.pf?  There has to be either something missing or something causing a conflict.  Also did you unpack the memdisk from the iso Walking_X made and compared it with what you have?

 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 22, 2014, 09:28:24 pm
Hi Sigurd,

Could you post a list of the files in your bootdisk.pf?  There has to be either something missing or something causing a conflict.  Also did you unpack the memdisk from the iso Walking_X made and compared it with what you have?

Hi Ivan,

files - please see attached picture

iso - no, sorry, did not unpack it so far, will try tomorrow.

Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Wim Brul on September 23, 2014, 11:18:23 am
Hi Sigurd,

Quote
It turned out that UPDCD produces the bootdisk.scr only for a short duration of time, pointing from there to the \tmp directory, that is as well only there for a short time in \UPDCD\BURN\BOOTIMGS - just to build the BOOTDISK.PF - and then both will be automatically deleted by the program.

I rememberd the way I took to change and modify the config.sys - (please see my thread at the german forum) - by adding a 'pause' command in the \UPDCD\LIB\updif.rlb - so I looked for the part, right before the bootdiskfiles are copied from the tmp directory.

So the program stopped as I wanted and I then copied the files I wanted to add to the \tmp directory and then continued the UPDCD process. Later I did as before as well - copying the files to DISK_0 and packed them, to complete the procedure.

Are you sure that the program stopped where you wanted? When I look at bootdisk1.png it seems to me that you paused after packing \temp into bootdisk.pf and your add to the \tmp directory has been done in vain.

Regards, Wim. 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 23, 2014, 01:05:49 pm
Hi all,

first I have to apologize - I made so many attemps now. with each one producing the file temp.raw_00 wich I had to burn, that the last time I mixed them up  :-\

The same error message occured simply because I burned the same raw image as before...

I noticed this in the morning and burned the "rigt" new one that I built yesterday.
Once I started to boot this DVD it did stop even earlier than the one before, stating that:

OS2CSM.BIN is corrupted EDIT: this file is contained in bootdisk.pf and is 42 byte

- please see attached picture.

What might went wrong this time?

@Wim: Thanks for looking at this as well, I just placed the 'pause' where I thought it might make sense as I am not familiar with the Rexx commands used there - where would you place the command? But as far as I can see it did work - please see the screenshot of my last post (bootdisk6.png), where I did use e_pf.exe to extract the "new" bootdisk.pf I created right before with UPDCD. All the files I copied (i.e. QSINIT.LDI, hd4disk.add etc.) have been included.

Please note: at the screenshot below you can see that I already included memdisk files from 2009, and for me the German version  :)

Thanks to all of you - I am really hopefull to achieve my goal during the next time - thanks to your help!

Once I have finished all this I will ask Zsolt Kaddar if it is possible and allowed if he - or someone else - might include and automate these steps with an addition to UPDCD.
 
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: ivan on September 23, 2014, 03:42:54 pm
Since OS2CSM.BIN does not appear on any of my CD/DVDs I have to ask where did you get it from and what is it supposed to do?

You could also try removing it and see if that allows you to book from the CD/DVD.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 23, 2014, 06:42:08 pm
Since OS2CSM.BIN does not appear on any of my CD/DVDs I have to ask where did you get it from and what is it supposed to do?

You could also try removing it and see if that allows you to book from the CD/DVD.

I guess it has something to do with UPDCD and the bootprocess - it is a file that seems to be created and placed in the bootdisk.pf

http://www.os2world.com/past-news/80-software/3422- (http://www.os2world.com/past-news/80-software/3422-)

As this problem did not occur before I think I will revome the changes I made to UPDCD with the memdisk files I updated.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: walking_x on September 23, 2014, 07:06:24 pm
OS2CSM.BIN is "config.sys" editor implementation (like in eCS CD).
Why boot process ask for it? It was selected somewhere in setup?
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 23, 2014, 08:31:26 pm
Oh Baby I have got it!! 8) 8)!!!!

Replacing the changed membootfiles with thos form UPDCD did it!!!!!!
What a superb feeling!!!

I can now boot the Installation DVD and Enter the QSINIT Menue with all the benefits!! I can inspect the HDD, delete and add partitions, check the ACPI Table, the PCI ..... and play Tetris!!!

Das ist der absolute HAMMER!!!   8) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I attach some pictures taken while booting the X200 Tablet PC.

I will write more when I calm down a bit  :D :D :D :D

Thanks for all your support! Now I have got a really god base to try more!!!!

Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 23, 2014, 08:33:22 pm
More pictures, and yes - the installation does start - but I have to see if it will finish   ::)
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 23, 2014, 08:34:47 pm
And more....
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: muffetta on September 23, 2014, 08:49:58 pm
Great Sigurd  ;D !
If you got the goal (i have no doubt), starting from your procedure, you could  also try to build an iso ready for an usb device!
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: ivan on September 23, 2014, 09:42:36 pm
Well done Sigurd!  I know exactly how you feel having been there in 2002 when I produced a bootable CD using CD Boot/2 by Roman Stangl.

Now you have the general idea of what is needed you should find finishing your DVD is a simple matter.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: walking_x on September 24, 2014, 12:23:28 am
Yes, congratulations :)
But how you got this funny line number 4? I think - this must be fixed ;)
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader - SUCCESS!!!!!!
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 24, 2014, 08:40:37 am
Thank you very much,

yes - I have to make a lot of minor and major changes still to do, but first of all I am trying to get in Contact with Zsolt Kaddar now, the author of UPDCD.
Title: Re: Need help with QSINIT Loader
Post by: Sigurd Fastenrath on September 24, 2014, 04:55:35 pm
Hi Sigurd,

Quote
It turned out that UPDCD produces the bootdisk.scr only for a short duration of time, pointing from there to the \tmp directory, that is as well only there for a short time in \UPDCD\BURN\BOOTIMGS - just to build the BOOTDISK.PF - and then both will be automatically deleted by the program.

I rememberd the way I took to change and modify the config.sys - (please see my thread at the german forum) - by adding a 'pause' command in the \UPDCD\LIB\updif.rlb - so I looked for the part, right before the bootdiskfiles are copied from the tmp directory.

So the program stopped as I wanted and I then copied the files I wanted to add to the \tmp directory and then continued the UPDCD process. Later I did as before as well - copying the files to DISK_0 and packed them, to complete the procedure.

Are you sure that the program stopped where you wanted? When I look at bootdisk1.png it seems to me that you paused after packing \temp into bootdisk.pf and your add to the \tmp directory has been done in vain.

Regards, Wim.

Hi Wim,

I have to apologize - you have been right! After looking at bootdisk1.png again I realized that this was an to early screenshot - in fact I changed the 'pause' to another line once I realized it did not work this way. I thought I attached the right screenshot, but it was wrong. Here it is attached.

Thanks again!

Sigurd