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If I recall correctly, there was at one time a Linux boot loader that ran from DOS, which could make use of DOS device drivers. I recall using Yggdrasil Linux
by derekp7 6y ago
If I recall correctly, there was at one time a Linux boot loader that ran from DOS, which could make use of DOS device drivers. I recall using Yggdrasil Linux which had an option to boot this way, which used the DOS driver for my SCSI card and CDROM drive to make it available under Linux.
- bitwize 6y agoThat was LOADLIN. When coupled with a Linux filesystem called umsdos, it allowed you to boot Linux without repartitioning your disk or clobbering your MBR. Fun times. Umsdos overlaid a POSIX file system on top of an MS-DOS file system, using a scheme somewhat similar to Windows long filenames (but created before that became a feature of Windows). Basically, every directory would have a magic file called --LINUX-.--- that contained POSIX file data, including full filenames and permissions.
- axaxs 6y agoBrings back old memories. My first Linux experience was with PhatLinux and WinLinux2000. We only had one family computer and I didn't want to risk nuking the disk, which I now know would have inevitably happened.
- Narishma 6y agoI used to use that when I had a sound card that was not supported in Linux. I would load the drivers from DOS which provided Sound Blaster compatibility, then boot Linux from there.
- incanus77 6y agoStill is: http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/ http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/ I'm using it currently on a 386SX with 8MB of RAM (not to post this, however). Edit: Ah, this doesn't do the driver bit. But it works pretty well in itself.
- anthk 6y agoWell, if you were connected by ssh or even telnet to some pubnix, you could post there through lynx :D
- mixmastamyk 6y agoNetware servers used to use DOS as a bootloader too.