I wanted to boot USB flash drive Slax from the Windows 7 boot menu. So far, this is the easiest method that has worked for me:
1) Download and install easybcd 2.0 beta from NeoSmart http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642
Run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > NeoGrub > Install > Configure, and use a menu list like this one adapted from a post:
***********************
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
timeout=10
default=1
title Back to Menu
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1
boot
title Slax GRAPHICS MODE (KDE) - Use the maximum allowed resolution.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=xconf;telinit~4 changes=/slax/
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Slax ALWAYS FRESH - No changes are written anywhere.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=xconf;telinit~4
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Slax COPY TO RAM - Copy data to RAM to enhance speed(needs >300MB).
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw copy2ram autoexec=xconf;telinit~4
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Slax GRAPHICS VESA MODE - Force 1024x768 display resolution.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=telinit~4 changes=/slax/
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Slax TEXT MODE - Using command prompt only.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw changes=/slax/
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Slax as PXE SERVER - Boot Slax on other computers over network.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/vmlinuz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=/boot/pxelinux.cfg/start;/boot/pxelinux.cfg/web/start;xconf;telinit~4
initrd (hd1,0)/boot/initrd.gz
boot
title Run MEMTEST - Diagnose your computer's RAM for possible errors.
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
kernel (hd1,0)/boot/mt86p
boot
**************************
In easybcd, you can go to Edit Boot Menu, rename NeoGrub Bootloader as Slax, Save Settings, and then you will have an entry Slax on the Windows 7 boot menu so you can select Windows 7 or Slax at boot.
**************************
Another, more complicated method for the dual boot, is this:
1) Download and unzip grub4dos-0.4.4zip from http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/files/
Copy the grub4dos-0.4.4 folder to the boot folder on the USB flash drive and rename it grub. On the USB flash drive, edit \boot\grub\menu.lst using the menu.lst like the one above.
2) Download and install easybcd 2.0 beta from NeoSmart http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642
Run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > Linux/BSD
Pick GRUB (Legacy) from the list, name it Slax, choose the option GRUB isn't installed to the MBR/bootsector, and click Add Entry. You don't need to select device since this will be automatically configured; but the Slax USB flash drive is drive 1 partition 1 (on my system).
This will add a new entry Slax to the Windows 7 boot menu so you can select Windows 7 or Slax at boot.
**************************
Dual boot notes:
I use easybcd 2.0 beta because I could not get the dual boot working with easybcd 1.7.2.
I'm using an HP p6230y pc with one hard drive and two 4 gb Kingston DataTraveler 101 II USb flash drives, the first for Slax and the second for backup, both fat32 and one partition.
Grub sees the first USB flash drive as a second hard drive (hd1,0).
I had to change the power setting in the bios to power on after AC power failure, instead of the default stay off, for the USB flash drives to be recognized by the system. After shutting down the pc, I turn off the power strip that my computer stuff is connected to. This leaves the USB flash drives shut off unless the bios power setting is changed from the default. Now, when I turn on the power strip, the pc powers up, and the USB flash drives are recognized. In the boot settings section of the bios, the USB flash drives are seen as hard drives, so to boot Slax from the bios, set the Slax USB flash drive as the first hard drive to boot.
I first tried Slax from a DVD+RW disc, then I copied the boot and slax folders from the disc to the USB flash drive and ran bootinst.bat from the boot folder to make it bootable.
I usually use Windows 7, so I reset the C drive as the first hard drive to boot and went looking for a way to boot the USB flash drive Slax from the Windows 7 boot menu.
**************************
Auto connect wifi methods:
1) I wanted to auto connect to my wifi network and launch Firefox at startup. So far, this is the easiest method that has worked for me:
Add the module wlassistant and set it up to connect to your network. In wlassistant, go to options and check Automatically connect on startup, Automatically reconnect if connection is lost, and Quit upon successful connection.
Save the script below with KWrite as something like web.sh, put the file web.sh in the hidden KDE autostart folder /root/.kde/Autostart, right click on web.sh, click on Properties, click on Permissions, check is executable, then click OK. Then, on Slax startup, the script should run, wifi should auto connect and Firefox should open connected to the web.
****************
#!/bin/sh
#This script starts wlassistant, waits for a connection to be established, then launches Firefox
wlassistant
wait
firefox
****************
2) If you only want to auto connect to your wifi network and not launch Firefox at startup, then you don't need the script:
Just go to K Menu > Internet, click and drag the Wireless Assistant icon into the hidden KDE autostart folder /root/.kde/Autostart, and select Link Here. Then, on Slax startup, Wireless Assistant should run, and wifi should auto connect.
If you do the same with the Firefox icon, Firefox will also launch at startup, but likely before the wifi connection is made, and you will have to click retry in Firefox to connect to the server.
3) If you want to use Kwifimanager instead, configure it to connect to your network, and to connect to the web, in "Execute script on connect" type: dhcpcd wlan0
Then click on activate, Kwifimanager should connect to the web, and you should be able to surf the web with Firefox.
**************************
Wifi notes:
To add the module wlassistant, I connected with Kwifimanager, searched for wlassistant on the modules page at slax.org, downloaded wlassistant 0.5.7, went to K Menu > System > Slax Module manager > Add a new module, and selected wlassistant from the Downloads folder.
To get to the hidden KDE autostart folder, click on the Home icon on the desktop, and type /root/.kde/Autostart in the location window. Or, click on View, check Show Hidden Files, and navigate to /root/.kde/Autostart.
Rava wrote:
I wonder (since the grub4dos way not works for me, see here for details http://www.slax.org/forum.php?action=view&parentID=67151 ) ... it seems I have to go the way you described here. How is that an multiboot since all entries are for the SLAX on USB, where is the entry for W7 (hd0,0) :?
I boot into Windows 7 or SLAX from the windows boot menu. If Windows 7 is selected, it boots directly from the windows boot menu. If SLAX is selected, then grub is used to boot SLAX. Grub is not used to boot Windows 7.
L2Cache wrote:
I boot into Windows 7 or SLAX from the windows boot menu. If Windows 7 is selected, it boots directly from the windows boot menu. If SLAX is selected, then grub is used to boot SLAX. Grub is not used to boot Windows 7.
Ahh okay, so to get that right: easybcd 2.0 beta does change the boot menu that sits in the hidden boot partition that I cannot asign a drive to and cannot access via w7?
And I need to install grub where into?
Since I cannot use grub4dos (see the URL of the other thread for details) , since I cannot convince w7 to show me that hidden first boot partition...
So, how do I install grub? Via linux? And where do I put it, then? Sure not into the MBR? And since I cannot put it into hd0,0 ...
Rava wrote: L2Cache wrote:
I boot into Windows 7 or SLAX from the windows boot menu. If Windows 7 is selected, it boots directly from the windows boot menu. If SLAX is selected, then grub is used to boot SLAX. Grub is not used to boot Windows 7.
Ahh okay, so to get that right: easybcd 2.0 beta does change the boot menu that sits in the hidden boot partition that I cannot asign a drive to and cannot access via w7?
And I need to install grub where into?
Since I cannot use grub4dos (see the URL of the other thread for details) , since I cannot convince w7 to show me that hidden first boot partition...
So, how do I install grub? Via linux? And where do I put it, then? Sure not into the MBR? And since I cannot put it into hd0,0 ...
Yes, easybcd 2.0 beta allows you to edit the windows 7 boot menu, put neogrub (like grub4dos) onto one of your windows hard drive partitions, and use a menu list to boot SLAX without having to worry about the details. Just run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > NeoGrub > Install > Configure, and use a menu list like the one in this post.
I tried it with easybcd 2.0.3 Beta Build 120 but it seems that version has a bug.
When I got to "Add New Entry > NeoGrub > Install" I get an error
"Der Objektverweis wurde nicht auf eine Objektinstanz festgelegt" and it closes (I could just send an Error report)
I also have the 2.0 beta, and it seems to work with that one...
Now I have to work on the needed config, but no time right now. :P
Rava wrote:
Finally, I managed it with the 2.0 beta version...
Yay! Thank you very much, L2Cache, since the other way via grub4dos would not work with my W7...
I've been using this method for a long time (easybcd). Like g4d it is an unobtrusive method that is easy to recover from should things go bad. Highly recommended.
This is an old but still relevant thread.
I jus tried out the first post (1) Download and install easybcd 2.0 beta from NeoSmart http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642
Run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > NeoGrub > Install > Configure, and use a menu list like this one adapted from a post:)
and it is as easy an the grud4dos /winxp modify the boot.ini method.
But in the case of winxp /grub4dos , if we want to revert , we just need to delete the line added to boot.ini and delete the added file (grldr).
But the case of win7 and easybcd ???
I don't need to do , but I would like to know beforehand incase I ever need it.
Edit:
Answering my own posting.
You can delete from within easybcd to revert.
Just for the record I had tried both methods and the work flawlessly .Note I installed to a hard disk and not to a usb thumbdrive. The methodology is the same .It's just a matter of changing /configuring the menu.lst:
See 1st Posting by L2Cache:
1) Download and install easybcd 2.0 beta from NeoSmart http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642
Run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > NeoGrub > Install > Configure, and use a menu list like this one adapted from a post:
And:
Another, more complicated method for the dual boot, is this:
1) Download and unzip grub4dos-0.4.4zip from http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/files/
Copy the grub4dos-0.4.4 folder to the boot folder on the USB flash drive and rename it grub. On the USB flash drive, edit \boot\grub\menu.lst using the menu.lst like the one above.
2) Download and install easybcd 2.0 beta from NeoSmart http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642
Run easybcd and go to Add New Entry > Linux/BSD
Pick GRUB (Legacy) from the list, name it Slax, , and click Add Entry.You don't need to select device since this will be automatically configured
I have not comment on the 1st method, but for the 2nd method:
I can't find this option "choose the option GRUB isn't installed to the MBR/bootsector".
I need to select a device , otherwise I can't add an etry . I choose the window 7 partition .
I opt to use easybcd's copy of Grub , so the Grub4dos actually isn't required . No need to down and extract it.
