[Grub4dos-devel] Any devs still reading this list?

[Michael Reichenbach]

Hey there,
it`s pretty quite on this list. Still any devs reading here or where are
there?

However, I just write what I wanted to write and hope I am using the
most recent method to contact.

I am talking about
http://grub4dos.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Grub4dos_tutorial
"The virtual disk is implemented using INT 13. Therefore, it can be
accessed in system that still uses INT 13, such as all kinds of DOS and
Windows 9X (compatible mode disk access), and it can't be accessed in
system that usesprotected mode drivers, such as Linux, FreeBSD and
Windows NT family OSs."

and have a suggestion for the grub4dos project.

Linux is a flexible system. Them implemented already lots of stuff for
better supporting any kinds of virtualizion.

So... Why not make a feature request at the kernel developers to
implement support for such virtual devices? I would do it myself, but I
couldn`t argue with them about the technical details.

I mean, it wouldn`t be to hard for them to detect this virtaul device
and then continue to use INT 13 and not to switch to protected mode drivers?

Maybe also the grub4dos developers could supply a small patch. No idea
how hard this would be.

Just wanted to say that and hope for an answer. :)

best regards
Michael Reichenbach

_______________________________________________
Grub4dos-devel mailing list
Grub4do...@gna.org
https://mail.gna.org/listinfo/grub4dos-devel

[Bean]

On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 2:24 AM, Michael Reichenbach
<michael_r...@freenet.de> wrote:
> Hey there,
> it`s pretty quite on this list. Still any devs reading here or where are
> there?
>
> However, I just write what I wanted to write and hope I am using the
> most recent method to contact.

The developers are from China, they usually use the Chinese forum to
discuss grub4dos related issues:

http://bbs.znpc.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=4

This list is also monitored, you can post your question or bug report here.

If you are looking for a English forum, you can go to:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showforum=66

>
> I am talking about
> http://grub4dos.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Grub4dos_tutorial
> "The virtual disk is implemented using INT 13. Therefore, it can be
> accessed in system that still uses INT 13, such as all kinds of DOS and
> Windows 9X (compatible mode disk access), and it can't be accessed in
> system that usesprotected mode drivers, such as Linux, FreeBSD and
> Windows NT family OSs."
>
> and have a suggestion for the grub4dos project.
>
> Linux is a flexible system. Them implemented already lots of stuff for
> better supporting any kinds of virtualizion.
>
> So... Why not make a feature request at the kernel developers to
> implement support for such virtual devices? I would do it myself, but I
> couldn`t argue with them about the technical details.
>
> I mean, it wouldn`t be to hard for them to detect this virtaul device
> and then continue to use INT 13 and not to switch to protected mode drivers?

No, actually you can't use INT 13 anymore. but we can write a
protected mode driver to take over the disk in linux.

>
> Maybe also the grub4dos developers could supply a small patch. No idea
> how hard this would be.
>
> Just wanted to say that and hope for an answer. :)

I'm not familiar with linux kernel drivers. If someone are willing to
take on this work, I can tell them how to detect the grub4dos ramdisk
information in memory.

--
Bean