w95boot(8) - NetBSD Manual Pages

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W95BOOT(8)            NetBSD/i386 System Manager's Manual           W95BOOT(8)


NAME

     w95boot -- procedure for booting NetBSD/i386 from Windows 95


DESCRIPTION

     dosboot(8) is a program that can boot NetBSD from DOS. However, it must
     be run under real DOS, and not an emulated DOS session. As a result, it
     can not be directly run from Windows 95. Windows does, however, have the
     ability to run a program in ``DOS Mode'', which is to say, Windows can
     reboot itself into stand-alone DOS and execute a program. One difficulty
     of this method is that Windows expects the program to exit, so it can
     restore the system to boot into Windows. Since dosboot(8) takes over the
     computer, Windows will be unable to clean up after it, and as a result
     the next attempt to start Windows will also result in booting NetBSD.

     This manual page describes how to set up Windows to boot NetBSD, in such
     a way as to avoid the problem described above. It assumes that Windows is
     the default OS on your multiboot system, since if NetBSD were the
     default, you could simply use the Reboot option of the Windows shutdown
     menu.

     Begin by creating the directory C:\NetBSD on your Windows system. You may
     use another name if you prefer; just be sure to edit the paths in the
     instructions below accordingly.  In that directory, place a copy of
     DOSBOOT.COM, which can be found on your NetBSD system as
     /usr/mdec/dosboot.com.  You can use ftp(1) or the msdosfs file system
     (see mount_msdos(8)) to transfer the file from NetBSD to Windows.

     Next create the script GoNetBSD.BAT in that directory, containing the
     following lines:

           @ECHO OFF
           IF EXIST C:\NetBSD\BOOTED GOTO towin
           ECHO >C:\NetBSD\BOOTED
           CHOICE /C+ /N /T+,5
           C:\NetBSD\DOSBOOT -u
           ECHO Error booting NetBSD
           CHOICE /C+ /N /T+,60

           :towin
           DEL C:\NetBSD\BOOTED
           ECHO Y >C:\NetBSD\Y
           CHOICE /C+ /N /T+,5
           C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM <Y

     Now, double click the icon for the dosboot(8) program. Windows will bring
     up a requester entired ``Program Requires MS-DOS Mode''. Select ``Yes''
     to create a shortcut. Turn off the ``Mouse'' checkmark on the window that
     appears and click ``OK''.

     Now right-click the dosboot.pif file that was created. This will be the
     icon that says dosboot with the MS-DOS logo.  Choose ``rename'' and
     change the name to GoNetBSD.

     Right click this newly-renamed icon again and select ``Properties''.
     Click to the ``Program'' tab. Edit the first text field to ``GoNetBSD''.
     Edit the ``Cmd line'' text field to read ``C:\NetBSD\GoNetBSD.BAT''.
     Ensure the ``Batch file'' field is blank.  Click on the ``Advanced'' but-
     ton. Make sure ``MS-DOS Mode'' is checked.  Uncheck the ``Warn before
     entering MS-DOS Mode'' checkbox if you intend to use the GoNetBSD script
     from another program, such as the Microsoft Plus! System Agent. Click
     ``OK'' to exit the ``Advanced Program Settings'' window. Click ``OK'' to
     exit the ``Properties'' window.

     Now you can click the GoNetBSD.BAT icon to boot into NetBSD.

MICROSOFT PLUS! SYSTEM AGENT
     You may also use GoNetBSD.BAT from other programs. For example, it could
     be scheduled to run under the System Agent (similar to the way Scandisk
     is invoked, for example) to have the computer automatically switch itself
     to NetBSD at certain times. In this event, it is necessary to uncheck the
     ``Warn before entering MS-DOS Mode'' setting as described above.

     To set up GoNetBSD to run under System Agent, follow these steps. First,
     double click the System Agent icon on the taskbar tray. This will open
     the System Agent window. Select ``Schedule a New Program'' from the
     ``Program'' menu. In the ``Program'' text field, enter the complete path
     to the GoNetBSD batch file, for example ``C:\NetBSD\GoNetBSD.BAT''.  In
     the ``Description'' text field, enter a descriptive name for the sched-
     uled event, such as ``Reboot system under NetBSD''.

     Now click the ``When to Run program'' and select the time schedule for
     the switch to NetBSD.  It is advisable to use the ``Wait until I haven't
     used my computer for...'' feature to prevent the switch if someone is
     actively using windows at the time the switch is to occur. Now click on
     the ``Advanced'' button, and set a deadline that is shortly after (say,
     two minutes) the start time. If you return from NetBSD before the dead-
     line, System Agent will believe that the program did not complete suc-
     cessfully, and switch you back to NetBSD.  Setting a very short deadline
     will prevent this.

     Now click ``OK'' in that window and the previous window to get back to
     the System Agent main window, and then close System Agent. Your system
     will now automatically switch to NetBSD at the specified time or times.

     If you wish to have NetBSD reboot to Windows after some amount of time,
     the cron(8) or at(1) programs in conjunction with reboot(8) or
     shutdown(8) may be useful.


SEE ALSO

     at(1), crontab(1), ftp(1), cron(8), dosboot(8), mount_msdos(8),
     reboot(8), shutdown(8)

NetBSD 5.1                     December 7, 1997                     NetBSD 5.1