1 chain.c32 documentation
3 Although syslinux features simple native chainloading capability (through .bss
4 and .bs options - see doc/syslinux.txt), it also provides very roboust and
5 feature rich com32 module designed for such purpose - which should allow you to
6 boot virtually anything.
8 FIXME: initial move from chain.c below
13 * Chainload a hard disk (currently rather braindead.)
15 * Usage: chain [options]
16 * chain hd<disk#> [<partition>] [options]
17 * chain fd<disk#> [options]
18 * chain mbr:<id> [<partition>] [options]
19 * chain guid:<guid> [<partition>] [options]
20 * chain label:<label> [<partition>] [options]
21 * chain boot [<partition>] [options]
23 * For example, "chain msdos=io.sys" will load DOS from the current Syslinux
24 * filesystem. "chain hd0 1" will boot the first partition on the first hard
27 * When none of the "hdX", "fdX", "mbr:", "guid:", "label:", "boot" or "fs"
28 * options are specified, the default behaviour is equivalent to "boot".
29 * "boot" means to use the current Syslinux drive, and you can also specify
32 * The mbr: syntax means search all the hard disks until one with a
33 * specific MBR serial number (bytes 440-443) is found.
35 * Partitions 1-4 are primary, 5+ logical, 0 = boot MBR (default.)
37 * "fs" will use the current Syslinux filesystem as the boot drive/partition.
38 * When booting from PXELINUX, you will most likely wish to specify a disk.
43 * loads the file <loader> **from the Syslinux filesystem**
44 * instead of loading the boot sector.
47 * loads at and jumps to <seg>:0000 instead of 0000:7C00.
50 * chainload another version/build of the ISOLINUX bootloader and patch
51 * the loader with appropriate parameters in memory.
52 * This avoids the need for the -eltorito-alt-boot parameter of mkisofs,
53 * when you want more than one ISOLINUX per CD/DVD.
56 * equivalent to seg=0x2000 file=<loader> sethidden,
57 * used with WinNT's loaders
60 * used with Recovery Console of Windows NT/2K/XP.
61 * same as ntldr=<loader> & "cmdcons\0" written to
62 * the system name field in the bootsector
65 * equivalent to seg=0x60 file=<loader> sethidden,
66 * used with FreeDOS' kernel.sys.
70 * equivalent to seg=0x70 file=<loader> sethidden,
71 * used with DOS' io.sys.
74 * same as seg=0x800 file=<loader> & jumping to seg 0x820,
75 * used with GRUB Legacy stage2 files.
78 * set an alternative config filename in stage2 of Grub Legacy,
79 * only applicable in combination with "grub=<loader>".
82 * pass the partition number to GRUB4DOS,
83 * used with GRUB4DOS' grldr.
86 * if the disk is not fd0/hd0, install a BIOS stub which swaps
90 * change type of primary partitions with IDs 01, 04, 06, 07,
91 * 0b, 0c, or 0e to 1x, except for the selected partition, which
92 * is converted the other way.
95 * update the "hidden sectors" (partition offset) field in a
96 * FAT/NTFS boot sector.
99 * keep the PXE and UNDI stacks in memory (PXELINUX only).