Creating a bootable floppy with Syslinux

  • Dos format a floppy:
    • mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0
  • Copy a kernel to it:
    • mount /mnt/floppy
cp /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2smp /mnt/floppy/vmlinuz
umount /mnt/floppy
  • Syslinux the floppy:
    • syslinux -s /dev/fd0
    This will drop you to a boot: prompt. It will automatically try to load a kernel image labeled linux (which it won't find). You may then type in vmlinuz, and syslinux will find and try to boot that kernel image. I then got the following kernel message: 
    request_module[block-major-8]: Root fs not mounted
VFS: Cannot open root device "" or 08:41
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 08:41
    The above states that it was trying to load "" (blank) and so it defaulted to 08:41 which translates to /dev/sde1 (08:41 hex -> decimal = 08:65, /dev/08:65=/dev/sde1)





    Next will be to generate a syslinux.cfg file... 1