[debian-knoppix] Boot floppy size formats and Win32 issues
Knoppix I just wanted to clear up some floppy disk issues
for knoppix config floppies and boot floppies.
El Torito (bootable CD drive) PCs can store configs
on a floppy disk. PCs that don't boot CDs, might boot
from a floppy and then call the CD. But if you plan to use
win32 OS machines to create and edit these floppies
you will need to read on.
Normal PC floppy drives and disks are the 1.44Mb kind.
2.88 Mb floppies use different floppy drives and disks.
2.88 are the largest floppy images that can be inserted
on a CD to boot El Torito PCs, but that is another story.
Disk have file systems and format sizes.
PC floppy file system format is actually FAT, much like
harddisks. FAT = File Allocation Table. FAT is native to
DOS and Win32 and is also supported by Linux and
MacOS. When you see a floppy marked PC floppy,
this means FAT.
As for format size, PC (FAT) floppies are normally 1.44 Mb,
but floppies can be reformatted to other sizes.
1680k Floppies:
1680k is the largest format that is uniformly read/write supported
by all win32 OSes (Win9x/Me/Nt/2k/Xp). MS calls this DMF or
Distribution Media Format. But Win32 cannot format a new 1680k
floppy without special tools (but read on for a free workaround).
This is so MS can ship floppies that are hard to copy, hold more
data, and save money on floppies.
Linux tools for formatting and inserting boot sectors are reliable.
(e.g. fdutils, mtools, syslinux)
DOS version of the Syslinux setup tool, inserts Linux boot sector
for floppies and CDs, does not support Win32. Winimage is a
commercial tool that will format special sizes and insert
boot sectors such as Syslinux. I have specs and contacts with
technical details to write a GPL tool for creating 1680k linux
floppies on Win32, a "rawrite" on steroids. If people want to pursue
this GPL win32 1680k formatter and Syslinux tool, I can point quickly
to the resources.
Workaround:
1680k boot floppy and Syslinux bootsector on win32 box can be made
by downloading the Dachstein_1.0.2_img_dachstein-1680.exe from
http://leaf.sourceforge.net/
Execute the file, write a fresh floppy, and delete all the files on the
floppy and copy in the files you want.
Read Syslinux documents for the files setup to boot your kernal.
http://syslinux.zytor.com/
The dachstein image exe was made with (commercial) Winimage.
1722k Floppies:
1722k floppies are read and write supported in Win95/98/Me,
but formatting can only be done with special tools.
Windows (Nt/2k/Xp) cannot read or write 1722k floppies.
There is a floppy driver support issue, cause its
not a hardware problem. So do not make 1722k floppies
if you need to edit them on any Windows PC.
Hope this helps the project
-Nathaniel Pendleton
www.pendletonpress.com
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