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Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:16 pm
by albus
I try to follow the os development series but I've problem using the two softwares vfd and partycopy.
For vfd I find a solution ( you have to download a dll and sys file from a site and than activate the test mode of windows ) but for partycopy I didn't find a solution.
Can you help me with this problem or is better run windows xp on virtual machine?
Thanks for our help

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:19 pm
by linuxfreak
Hi there, and Welcome:

I am also using Windows 7 64-bit and have found it quite easy to use the software built into Windows for the things I want to do.

Yes, I am talking about the debug command.

If you want to write your bootloader to a floppy in drive A: then use the following command in command prompt.

type: "debug <bootfile>" (press enter)
(wait for a little " - " to show)
type: "w 100 0 0 2"
type: "q" when the little "-" shows.

In the above command sample, replace "<bootfile>" with the nasm output file eg. boot1.bin

Remember to switch to the directory where your bootloader is before you run the debug command.

Regards:

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:53 am
by albus
Ok tahanks but what you have install to use the debug comand? I try it but the cmd say the it didn't find debug.exe? You have install something special?

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:35 pm
by linuxfreak
Hello:

There is no need to install anything special, just a few things you need to know.

1. To access debug you need to go to "Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt"

And then just run the command like you used to.

Code: Select all

debug <bootfile>
w 100 0 0 2
q

>> Remember <bootfile> is just the name of the NASM output file!
>> Remember to type the commands posted here without the "Quotes"

Hope this helps

Regards...

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:49 pm
by albus
Ok but i continious to not find the debug.exe file when I run the cmd and a error occure.
Are you sure to have windows 64 bit? Have you install some particular program?

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:25 pm
by linuxfreak
Hello:

Altough I have Windows 7 64-bit, I am still using it out of the box, brand new, so I am not aware of any additional software installed that would enable the debug command, and yes it seems that debug.exe is not included in Windows 7 64-bit?! I am sorry for that mistake.

Although I have found that the developers of partcopy have recently added 64-bit support. You can just go download the new version.

Regards:

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:42 pm
by albus
Ok thanks I'll download party copy.

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:27 pm
by albus
linuxfreak I problonly have a solution for the debug comand.
Can you upload the debug.exe file to internet so anybody that have Windows 64 bit can download it and use it on Windows 64-bit?
A last information Do you have a intel or amd cpu?

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:12 pm
by linuxfreak
Hi:
I am so very sory for having to dissapoint you, but after recent events I have decided to remove Windows 7 from my computer and Install Mac OS X Lion, wich as you may think, does not have debug or support for PE exacutables. So I am unable to post this file on the internet. I will still however continue to look for any possible solutions on the internet. If I cannot find something, I will let you know.

For now, I think it is your best and only bet, to try and run Windows XP from a virtual machine. At least then you have full debug support.

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo cpu.

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:08 pm
by linuxfreak
Hello:

Sorry that I took so long but I have now resolved my Windows issues, and have resumed development. I have found that WinImage can be used to create bootable floppies. The only problem with WinImage is that you have to use the GUI, even though I haven't tried any other way. All you have to do to make a floppy bootable is, open WinImage, create a new Image, add the kernel and loader and other files used by your OS, in my case, "Settings.cfg". The from the 'Image' menu, select 'Bootsector properties', then click open. Select your boot image, press 'OK' and write the image. Done... :mrgreen:

You can get WinImage from http://www.winimage.com/download.htm.

Regards:

Re: Software to use for windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:20 pm
by halofreak1990
After having some issues with PartCopy on my (32-bit) development PC, I decided to use a Hex Editor to directly write the bootsector to my floppy disk. The hex editor I use is called HxD and is free to download at http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/.
An advantage of using the hex editor is that I can see exactly what is written to the disk, which reduces the chance of errors.

In order to make a floppy disk bootable, I:
1) Format it as FAT12
2) use HxD to write the bootsector

After that, I go to Windows Explorer and copy the second stage bootloader to the disk and run a rebuild of my kernel, which automatically copies it to the floppy disk.