Hard disk BLDR for non x86 device

Is it possible to build and use the BIOS boot loader for CE 5.0 on a non
x86 device. I have and ixp425 device and I need to boot the nk.bin from
the hard disk because it is too big for flash. If the BIOS boot loader
will not work does anyone know of another way?

Thanks,
Brad

K
Wed Mar 02 02:07:18 CST 2005

The BIOS Loader as its name, it needs BIOS APIs to access hard disk!!
So on IXP425 platforms, there is NO BIOS APIs and the BIOS Loader will NOT
be functional!!

What you need to do is to write a Bootloader that have the basic ability to
access your HardDisk (it depends on how the Hard Disk is counnect to your
system), and a simple Read-Only FAT File-System to read the nk.bin on your
Hard Disk.

Besides to refer the codes for BLDR, you may also refer the codes for
ROMBOOT (under $(_WINCEROOT)\PUBLIC\COMMON\OAK\CSP\X86\ROMBOOT )!

The ROMBOOT demostrates a simple HDD and FAT drivers that with no BIOS APIs
access!




"Brad" <bitter@staticemi.org>
???????:%23kuEUvqHFHA.1476@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>
> Is it possible to build and use the BIOS boot loader for CE 5.0 on a non
> x86 device. I have and ixp425 device and I need to boot the nk.bin from
> the hard disk because it is too big for flash. If the BIOS boot loader
> will not work does anyone know of another way?
>
> Thanks,
> Brad

jer2911_1
Wed Mar 02 03:55:54 CST 2005

Brad <bitter@staticemi.org> wrote in message news:<#kuEUvqHFHA.1476@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>...
> Is it possible to build and use the BIOS boot loader for CE 5.0 on a non
> x86 device. I have and ixp425 device and I need to boot the nk.bin from
> the hard disk because it is too big for flash. If the BIOS boot loader
> will not work does anyone know of another way?
>
> Thanks,
> Brad

Hi Brad,

No. The BIOS boot loader is specific to x86 devices. This method
utilises the standard PC BIOS to perform POST, memory setup, chipset
setup, video setup, and provide the API to the hard disk system.

On non x86 systems a 'boot loader' is required and it essenstilly does
what the BIOS does. Intel usually provide a sample boot loader in the
BSP that can be used as base code. On Intel XScale platforms I have
worked on the boot loader lived in the first flash block, executing at
the CPU reset vector, and setup the hw in preparation for running
nk.bin from the flash.

You would have to modify the boot loader to read the nk.bin from the
HD.

David

Brad
Fri Mar 04 20:05:08 CST 2005

Thanks for the clarification. I was able to port ide.c and fat.c from
the x86 ROMBOOT to the IXP's boot loader. Seems to work very well.

- Brad

\\rcxkid wrote:
> Brad <bitter@staticemi.org> wrote in message news:<#kuEUvqHFHA.1476@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>...

>
>>Is it possible to build and use the BIOS boot loader for CE 5.0 on a non
>>x86 device. I have and ixp425 device and I need to boot the nk.bin from
>>the hard disk because it is too big for flash. If the BIOS boot loader
>>will not work does anyone know of another way?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Brad
>
>
> Hi Brad,
>
> No. The BIOS boot loader is specific to x86 devices. This method
> utilises the standard PC BIOS to perform POST, memory setup, chipset
> setup, video setup, and provide the API to the hard disk system.
>
> On non x86 systems a 'boot loader' is required and it essenstilly does
> what the BIOS does. Intel usually provide a sample boot loader in the
> BSP that can be used as base code. On Intel XScale platforms I have
> worked on the boot loader lived in the first flash block, executing at
> the CPU reset vector, and setup the hw in preparation for running
> nk.bin from the flash.
>
> You would have to modify the boot loader to read the nk.bin from the
> HD.
>
> David