changing default QNX bootloader selection

QNX Newsgroups (Archives) qdn.public.qnxrtp.installation
1

Hi,

I’ve just installed QNX RTP to a free partition on a NT system.
Now the QNX bootloader lets me select to boot NT or QNX, being QNX the
default.
Can I configurate the QNX bootloader so as to make NT the default boot
option (instead of QNX)?
Also, can I put some nice labels as options for the QNX bootloader?
Instead of numbers?

Thank you,

Ramon

2

Hi Ramon,

Ramon Sarrate <sarrate@esaii.upc.es> wrote in article <3C90E054.619C8A86@esaii.upc.es>…

Hi,

I’ve just installed QNX RTP to a free partition on a NT system.
Now the QNX bootloader lets me select to boot NT or QNX, being QNX the
default.
Can I configurate the QNX bootloader so as to make NT the default boot
option (instead of QNX)?

I guess you could look at ‘fdisk’ options… or just mark NT boot partitions as active somehow…
sorry I’m guessing here because I don’t use QNX bootloader :wink:

Also, can I put some nice labels as options for the QNX bootloader?

No, you can’t. QNX bootloader is very small program in Master Boot Record. You could use NT
bootloader ‘ntldr’ instead.

I sent you email with additional information.
Best regards.
Eduard.

Instead of numbers?

Thank you,

Ramon

3

The NT bootloader is very bad at starting other operating systems. At
least OS/2 will not boot, and I think Linux neither.

I used an external bootloader. Bootmagic from powerquest.
Looks very nice, but it requires that your C drive is FAT.

Otherwise look at Tucows, or downlaod.com for bootloaders/

Johan


Hi Ramon,

Ramon Sarrate <> sarrate@esaii.upc.es> > wrote in article <> 3C90E054.619C8A86@esaii.upc.es> >…
Hi,

I’ve just installed QNX RTP to a free partition on a NT system.
Now the QNX bootloader lets me select to boot NT or QNX, being QNX the
default.
Can I configurate the QNX bootloader so as to make NT the default boot
option (instead of QNX)?

I guess you could look at ‘fdisk’ options… or just mark NT boot partitions as active somehow…
sorry I’m guessing here because I don’t use QNX bootloader > :wink:

Also, can I put some nice labels as options for the QNX bootloader?

No, you can’t. QNX bootloader is very small program in Master Boot Record. You could use NT
bootloader ‘ntldr’ instead.

I sent you email with additional information.
Best regards.
Eduard.

Instead of numbers?

Thank you,

Ramon

4

Hi Johan,

Johan Siegers <johan.siegers@asm.com> wrote in article <3c91b91b.4449067@inn.qnx.com>…

The NT bootloader is very bad at starting other operating systems. At
least OS/2 will not boot, and I think Linux neither.

I disagree with you. NT bootloader works fine (it isn’t much worse than another, at least), if you
know how it works. No problem to boot Linux by ntldr (just setup lilo into bootsector of ext2),
there are problems with OS/2 (you can use OS/2’s multiboot, but can’t use HPFS boot) , but I’d say
OS/2 start up process is very bad instead of your statement. There is very nice program to power up
the NT loader: URL=http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm

Best regards,
edik.

I used an external bootloader. Bootmagic from powerquest.
Looks very nice, but it requires that your C drive is FAT.

Otherwise look at Tucows, or downlaod.com for bootloaders/

Johan

5

In article 01c1cfe8$3f25f8e0$106fa8c0@ED1K, ed1k wrote:

Hi Johan,

Johan Siegers <> johan.siegers@asm.com> > wrote in article <> 3c91b91b.4449067@inn.qnx.com> >…

The NT bootloader is very bad at starting other operating systems. At
least OS/2 will not boot, and I think Linux neither.

I disagree with you. NT bootloader works fine (it isn’t much worse than another, at least), if you
know how it works.

Agreed.
In my experience, the NT loader, if set up properly, can boot any system
on any partition that it can see, including non-local.
( as can the Win9x loader, but it’s limited to one and only one other
system )

\

Cowboy

kb: I demand integrity and honesty in those who i do business with
i know my demands are unreasonable, but a guy can dream, can’t he?

6

“Ramon Sarrate” <sarrate@esaii.upc.es> wrote in message
news:3C90E054.619C8A86@esaii.upc.es…

Hi,

I’ve just installed QNX RTP to a free partition on a NT system.
Now the QNX bootloader lets me select to boot NT or QNX, being QNX the
default.
Can I configurate the QNX bootloader so as to make NT the default boot
option (instead of QNX)?
Also, can I put some nice labels as options for the QNX bootloader?
Instead of numbers?

you can use the NT-Loader to load both QNX or NT (or DOS or others), it is
not as bad as some other say:

  1. get the tool ‘bootpart’ from http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm
  2. copy the bootpart.exe to the root where you have your boot.ini
  3. run bootpart without args, this will give you a numered list of your
    partitions
  4. run ‘bootpart n bootsect.qnx QNX’ , where n is the number of qnx
    partition (4f type)
  5. thats it

bootpart will add an entry QNX to your boot options. The bootsect.qnx file
contains the 512-byte startup code of the qnx partition.
The Be OS came with a small program that did all this with one click, maybe
the qnx guys can include such a tool on the next RTP release ?

7

Johannes Stratmann <jstratmann@cityweb.de> wrote in article <a7nkou$fkp$1@inn.qnx.com>…

The Be OS came with a small program that did all this with one click, maybe
the qnx guys can include such a tool on the next RTP release ?

There are enough primary boot loaders in current RTP release. You are able to boot from any
partition in your system by QNX loader. QNX loader provides ascetic menu, but it’s limited by
loader design: it uses code in MBR only. There are enough alternative loaders for ascetic menu
haters and you’re able to choice any.
Since I have enough experience in hard disk repair consulting, I have my own opinion about the
program that “did all with one click” or silently did “right” things :wink:
I agree, the bootpart is a great tool for NT loader. Just my $0.02.

Eduard.
ed1k at ukr dot net

8

“ed1k” <ed1k@spamerstrap.com> wrote in message
news:01c1d4a2$7b250a20$106fa8c0@ED1K…

Johannes Stratmann <> jstratmann@cityweb.de> > wrote in article
a7nkou$fkp$> 1@inn.qnx.com> >…

The Be OS came with a small program that did all this with one click,
maybe
the qnx guys can include such a tool on the next RTP release ?

There are enough primary boot loaders in current RTP release. You are able
to boot from any

yes, ok. My idea was only to simplify the process of adding the QNX
partition to an already existing NT-Loader. There are too much rumors about
the NT loader, it can start other OS’s but it is not well documented. And
when I have a NT System and wan’t to try QNX, why not use the existing
Loader ?

9

Johannes Stratmann <jstratmann@t-online.de> wrote in article <a7poju$3h4$1@inn.qnx.com>…

“ed1k” <> ed1k@spamerstrap.com> > wrote in message
news:01c1d4a2$7b250a20$106fa8c0@ED1K…
Johannes Stratmann <> jstratmann@cityweb.de> > wrote in article
a7nkou$fkp$> 1@inn.qnx.com> >…

The Be OS came with a small program that did all this with one click,
maybe
the qnx guys can include such a tool on the next RTP release ?

There are enough primary boot loaders in current RTP release. You are able
to boot from any

yes, ok. My idea was only to simplify the process of adding the QNX
partition to an already existing NT-Loader. There are too much rumors about
the NT loader, it can start other OS’s but it is not well documented. And
when I have a NT System and wan’t to try QNX, why not use the existing
Loader ?

LOL! you should write “maybe the microsoft guys can include…”. I don’t see the reason don’t use
ntldr under circumstances above. I even wrote the article on this subject and sent it to QSSL. But
seems they don’t see it’s actually needed to public it… Perhaps I should send it to qnxzone? :wink:

–
Eduard.
ed1k at ukr dot net