URL: http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html

Plop Boot Manager v5.0

page update: 14/Aug/2011

1. Introduction
2. Features
3. Screenshots
4. Licence
5. Download
6. Harddisk installation
7. Running without harddisk installation from Floppy, CD, Windows boot menu, Syslinux, LILO, GRUB, network
8. The Boot Manager
9. Configure the Boot Manager binary plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt
10. Create your own ISO file with your modfied plpbt.bin
11. Configure the Boot Manager binary plpbt.bin with parameters (Linux Kernel Command Line)
12. Create a PCI boot manager option ROM (save in bios)
13. plpbt4win
14. PCMCIA CardBus - USB PC-Card
15. Disable the USB driver under DOS
16. Detect the USB driver under DOS
17. Detect the USB driver with syslinux
18. Hidden partition / Cleared partition
19. Hide a partition
20. USB info
21. Video dual boot install Windows XP and Windows XP
22. Windows XP and Windows Vista dual boot with hidden (cleared) partitions
23. Dualboot Windows XP and Windows 7
24. Using the Boot Manager as USB harddisk driver for DOS
25. NOD32 Virus report
26. FAQ's - Frequently asked questions
27. Donate with Paypal

1. Introduction

The Plop Boot Manager is a small program to boot different operating systems. The boot manager has a builtin ide cdrom and usb driver to access those hardware without the help/need of a bios. You can boot the operating systems from harddisk, floppy, CD/DVD or from USB. You can start the boot manager from floppy, CD, network and there are many more ways to start the boot manager. You can install the boot manager on your harddisk. There is no extra partition required for the boot manager.

The Plop Boot Manager was written by Elmar Hanlhofer. If you need help, post it to the forum or send me a message with the contact form.

The current version is plpbt-5.0.13.zip.

Overview of install/start modes

Hard disk installation The boot manager will be installed as primary boot manager to your hard disk. No extra partition and required. The boot manager will be in the first sectors of your hard disk before the first partition begins.
Start from external media
Floppy
CDROM/DVD
USB drive 		Its not required to install the boot manager to your hard disk. You can start it from those media and use the boot manager with some limitations.
Start from other boot managers
LiLo
Syslinux
Grub
Grub4Dos
Grub2
Windows boot.ini
Windows BCD
 You can still use your prefered boot manager and additionally use features from the Plop Boot Manager (like boot the usb drive,...).

The boot manager can run in hidden mode, so you have for example an entry in your prefered boot manager to boot the usb drive and when you use this entry then it starts immediately without any additional menu. This can be useful for the usb boot function.
Start from network With help of pxelinux its possible to start the boot manager from the network.
Start from your bios as option rom You can store the boot manager as option rom in your bios. There is no need for any hard disk or anything else to start the boot manager. It can be used as PNP part of your bios or the boot manager can hook the INT19 to take control as first boot device.

2. Features


3. Screenshots

Main menu


zoom

Main menu (textmode)


zoom

Profile partitions


zoom

MBR partition edit


zoom

4. Licence

The Plop Boot Manager licence for personal and non-commercial use:

This licence is also used for the boot manager tools that are written by Elmar Hanlhofer and not released under GPLv2.


The Plop Boot Manager licence for commercial use:

Commercial use licence price per computer / virtual machine: € 5.- excl. VAT. Order with the contact form.


5. Download

The Plop Boot Manager files:

plpbt-5.0.13.zip 2011-08-14 Plop Boot Manager 5.0.13



Tools

plpbtrom-0.6.zip 2011-08-14 Create a PCI Option ROM
plpbt-createiso.zip 2010-06-08 Create custom boot manager cd's
plpgenbtldr-0.8.zip 2010-09-19 (depreciated) Tool to start the boot manager from the windows boot menu (windows)
plpcfgbt-0.10.zip 2011-04-17 Tool to configure the boot manager binary (windows/linux)
plpdisd-0.2.zip 2010-10-16 Deactivate the USB driver under DOS
plpchk-0.1.zip 2010-10-14 Detect the USB driver under DOS

Alternative download page: here


6. Harddisk installation

There are many ways to install the boot manager to the harddisk. If you want run the boot manager without harddisk installation then see Running from Windows boot menu, LILO, GRUB, Syslinux, Floppy, CD.

Warning Linux users: Install LILO or GRUB to the boot sector of your Linux instead of the Master Boot Record (MBR). The Plop Boot Manager is not a Linux loader and cannot start Linux without LILO, GRUB, Syslinux and similar!

The install program
Install program menu
Harddisk install using Floppy with a disk image
Harddisk install using CD with an ISO file
Harddisk install using DOS
Harddisk install using Windows boot menu (NT, 2K, XP, VISTA, Win7)
Harddisk install using Syslinux, Isolinux, Pxelinux (Network)
Harddisk install using LILO
Harddisk install using GRUB

The install program

There are 2 versions of the install program. Basically both versions do the same. The only difference is that plpinst.com creates a backup file plpback.bin to restore harddisk sectors for a complete boot manager uninstall. The second version plpinstc.com skips the backup part. You have to use the second version for installation from write protected media like CD's or if you install from network or any other boot manager.

The install programs are installing the boot manager always on the first harddisk of your computer.


Install program menu

1. Full boot manager install

With this option you install the boot manager to your harddisk. If you have an installed operating system, then the install program creates a profile for you to boot this operating system.

With the installation from floppy, the install program makes a backup of the sectors where the boot manager will be installed. The install program writes the backup to the floppy disk. With this backup it's possible to remove the boot manager completely from your harddisk. If you use the CD installation, then it's not possible to restore the sectors. In this case the uninstall routine creates a new MBR to boot the current operating system. The partition table data won't be changed.

2. Write mbr loader only

A small program (the loader) is required in the MBR to start the boot manager. Operating systems like Windows XP are writing during the installation their own small program into the MBR. If you install Windows XP after the boot manager, then Windows XP will start instead of the boot manager, because the loader is overwritten with the program from Windows XP. To setup that the boot manager starts before Windows XP you have to use Write mbr loader only.

3. Boot Manager update

With this, you can update the boot manager. But only updates with boot manager v5 are working.

4. Complete uninstall

Warning, this option is only available with the installation from floppy.

The install program takes the backup that was saved on the floppy disk and writes it back to the harddisk.

Warning, if you changed anything with the partition table, then do not use this option!

5. Short uninstall

With this option, the program writes a new MBR to start the current operating system. The partition table will be unchanged.

6. Set Boot Manager screen to textmode

Configures the Boot Manager to start in textmode.

7. Change destination harddisk

Set destination harddisk to install the boot manager.

8. Boot Manager hotkeys

See Hotkeys.

9. Reboot

The computer will be restarted.


Harddisk install using Floppy with a disk image

A floppy disk image is a file that contains every sector of the floppy disk. You cannot copy the image file on a floppy disk like a common file. It's required to use a special program that writes sector per sector of the image file to the floppy disk sectors. There are many programs available to do this.

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the floppy disk image. You find the disk image in the install directory. The name of the file is plpbtin.img

How to create the floppy:

DOS: You can use diskimg.com with diskimg -d a -w plpbtin.img

Windows: Write the disk image with the program rawwritewin to the floppy disk

Linux: dd if=plpbtin.img of=/dev/fd0


Harddisk install using CD with an ISO file

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the iso file. You find the iso file in the install directory. The name of the file is plpbtin.iso

Notice: The CD installer makes no backup for a complete uninstall. See The install program.

Windows:

You can use Nero, or the free program CDBurnerXP, or any other program that can burn ISO images.

Use the option like burn ISO on CD or burn ISO Image. Then choose the boot manager ISO and burn it.

Linux:

cdrecord is the linux program to burn ISO images to a CD.

Burn the ISO with cdrecord: cdrecord -v dev=<devicename> <iso image>

Example:
If you access your CD burner with /dev/hdd
cdrecord -v dev=/dev/hdd plpbtin.iso


Harddisk install using DOS

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the install program. In the install directory there are 2 install programs (plpinst.com and plpinstc.com) for using under DOS.

plpinst.com creates a backup file plpback.bin for a complete boot manager uninstall. plpinstc.bin makes no backup. Use plpinstc.com for write protected media like CD's.


Harddisk install using the Windows boot menu (NT, 2K, XP, VISTA, Win7)

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract the zip file. Open the folder Windows. You will find the batch program InstallToMBR. Run it as administrator in VISTA/WIN7 (right mouse click on the file and choose "Run as administrator"). The batch creates an entry in your windows boot menu called "Install the Plop Boot Manager to the MBR". When you reboot, then use the entry to install the Plop Boot Manager to the mbr.

To remove the entry from the windows boot menu run the program c:\plop\plpbt4win. Use "l" to list all entries. Remove the entry with "r ID". ID is the number you have seen with "l". See here for more infos to plpbt4win.

Note: plpgenbtldr and contig are no longer required.


Harddisk install using Syslinux, Isolinux, Pxelinux (Network)

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager install program. You find the install program plpinstc in the install directory.

Add plpinstc.com to the config file

Add the following lines to the config file 

label plpinst
linux plpinstc.com

Copy plpinstc to the same directory where the config file is.

You start the install program when you enter plpinst at the Syslinux command prompt.


Harddisk install using LILO

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager install program. You find the install program plpinstc.com in the install directory.

Copy plpinstc.com to /boot.

Add to your /etc/lilo.conf the following 

image=/boot/plpinstc.com
label=plop-install

Run lilo to update lilo.


Harddisk install using GRUB / grub4dos

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager install program. You find the install program plpinstc.com in the install directory.

Copy plpinstc.com to /boot.

You have to choose the correct root settings in menu.lst for your system.
The following is an example 

title Plop Boot Manager Install
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/plpinstc.com

When you reboot, you should be able to choose the install program from your grub menu.


7. Running without harddisk installation from Floppy, CD, Windows boot menu, Syslinux, LILO, GRUB, network

You can use the Plop Boot Manager without harddisk installation with the boot manager binary file plpbt.bin. It's possible to configure the binary with plpcfgbt.

Warning: If you start the Boot Manager in the following ways, then the Boot Manager DOES NOT save the changes you made in the profile/partitions menu! Use this Boot Manager features only when you installed the Boot Manager with the install program. See Harddisk installation.

Run from Floppy with a disk image
Run from CD with an ISO file
Run from Windows boot menu (NT, 2K, XP, VISTA and Win7)
Run from Syslinux, Isolinux, Pxelinux (Network)
Run from LILO
Run from GRUB
Run from GRUB2

Run from Floppy with a disk image

A floppy disk image is a file that contains every sector of the floppy disk. You cannot copy the image file on a floppy disk like a common file. It's required to use a special program that writes sector per sector of the image file to the floppy disk sectors. There are many programs available to do this.

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the floppy disk image plpbt.img.

How to create the floppy:

DOS: You can use diskimg.com with diskimg -d a -w plpbt.img

Windows: Write the disk image with the program rawwritewin to the floppy disk

Linux: dd if=plpbt.img of=/dev/fd0

You can configure the plpbt.bin on the floppy with plpcfgbt.


Run from CD with an ISO file

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the iso file plpbt.iso.

Windows:

You can use Nero, or the free program CDBurnerXP, or any other program that can burn ISO images.

Use the option like burn ISO on CD or burn ISO Image. Then choose the boot manager ISO and burn it.

Linux:

cdrecord is the linux program to burn ISO images to a CD.

Burn the ISO with cdrecord: cdrecord -v dev=<devicename> <iso image>

Example:
If you access your CD burner with /dev/hdd
cdrecord -v dev=/dev/hdd plpbt.iso


Run from the Windows boot menu (NT, 2K, XP, VISTA and Win7)

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract the zip file. Open the folder Windows. You will find the batch program InstallToBootMenu. Run it as administrator in VISTA/WIN7 (right mouse click on the file and choose "Run as administrator"). The batch creates an entry in your windows boot menu called "Plop Boot Manager". When you reboot, then use the entry to start the Plop Boot Manager.

To remove the entry from the windows boot menu run the program c:\plop\plpbt4win. Use "l" to list all entries. Remove the entry with "r ID". ID is the number you have seen with "l". See here for more infos to plpbt4win.

Note: plpgenbtldr and contig are no longer required.


Run from Syslinux, Isolinux, Pxelinux (Network)

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager binary program plpbt.bin.

Add plpbt to the config file

Add the following lines to your config file 

label plp
linux plpbt.bin

Copy plpbt.bin to the same directory where the config file is.

You start the boot manager when you enter plp at the Syslinux command prompt.

You can configure the file plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt.


Run from LILO

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager binary program plpbt.bin.

Copy the plpbt.bin file to /boot.

Add to your /etc/lilo.conf the following 

image=/boot/plpbt.bin
label=Plop

Run lilo to update lilo.

You can configure the file plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt.


Run from GRUB / grub4dos

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager binary program plpbt.bin.

Copy the plpbt.bin file to /boot.

You have to choose the correct root settings in menu.lst for your system.
The following is an example 

title Plop Boot Manager
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/plpbt.bin


Run from GRUB2

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.13.zip. Extract it to get the boot manager binary program plpbt.bin.

Copy the plpbt.bin file to /boot.

You have to choose the correct root settings in grub.cfg for your system.
The following is an example 

menuentry "Plop Boot Manager" {
    set root=(hd0,1)
    linux16 /boot/plpbt.bin
}

When you reboot, you should be able to start the boot manager from your grub menu.

You can configure the file plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt.


8. The Boot Manager

1. Hotkeys - Global keys

Cursor up/down  Move the bar
Enter  Choose selection
ESC  Close window
CTRL - ESC  Switch to textmode
CTRL - PAGE UP  Switch to higher screen resolution
CTRL - PAGE DOWN  Switch to lower screen resolution
z  Enable/Disable window zoom animation

2. Main menu

In the main menu you see all visible profiles to boot an operating system. You can start an operating system from floppy, cd/dvd, usb or network. You can go to the setup of the boot manager, partitions and profiles. If your bios supports APM, you can shutdown your computer.

2.1. Main menu hotkeys

1-9 Boot profile
q Quick boot, open a list of all possible hardcoded partitions to boot
w Write MBR with the profile settings, but do not boot
f Boot floppy
c Boot CD/DVD
u Boot USB
n Network boot

Special additional keys for USB boot:

Difference CTRL-u and ALT-u:

3. Setup

3.1. Partitions

You can manage your partitions here. The install program creates an entry for all primary partitions it finds. The names are from HDA1 up to HDD4. HD means harddisk. HDA stands for harddisk A and is the first harddisk. The numbers 1-4 are the numbers of the primary partitions.

Notice for linux users: HDA has nothing to do with the devices in linux like /dev/hda.

Edit label

You can change the label for the partition. This label is used in the boot manager. The maximum length is 16 chars.

Select Device

Here, you choose the harddisk of the partition.

HDA = Harddisk 1
HDB = Harddisk 2
HDC = Harddisk 3
HDD = Harddisk 4

Partition ID

There are 2 ways to set the ID of a partition.

1. Enter partition ID

You can enter the hexadecimal value for the partition.

2. Select ID from list

This list has the mostly used partition ID's. If the requested ID is not in the list, then use Enter partition ID.

Edit MBR/Import data

This is used to change the values of partitions in the MBR.

BP means boot manager partition. This values are stored in the boot manager.

P1-P4 this are the current values of the primary partitions in the MBR.

You can edit the hexadecimal values in the partition table. You can select a row with s (select) and paste the values to the row where the cursor is with p. With this function, you can import partition values to the boot manager or change values in the MBR. This can be very useful in emergency cases.

Clear partition data

Clearing the data means clearing of the partition data in the boot manager. The data on the partition itself is unchanged.

Reset changes

Use it if you changed something and you want to restore the whole values of the partition in the boot manager. This is possible until you close the partition edit window.

3.2. Profiles

Profiles are used to start different operating systems from different harddisks and partitions. It's also possible to detect changes in the MBR made by other software and import or forget the changes.

If you have an operating system installed and you install the boot manager, the installer creates a profile to boot the current operating system.

Edit label

You can edit the label of the profile. This label is shown in the main menu. It's useful to use a label to see what operating system is going to boot. The maximum length is 16 chars.

Show in main menu

With this option you select if the profile is shown in the main menu or not. Only visible profiles can be booted. It also has effects on the default profile in the boot manager setup.

Linked partitions

You select from which harddisk, partition and bios device number you want to boot with this profile. You can also select what partitions or cleared partitions should be used for the MBR.

Configure partition entries

There are 3 states for a partition entry

1. a selected partition

Press enter to choose a partition from a list with all partition of this harddisk available from Partitions.

If another software change this entry in the MBR, the boot manager detects this change at the next startup. You can choose if you want to import the new values or forget them.

2. don't touch

The partition entry in the MBR will not be changed from the boot manager. That is the default setting.

If a software changes this entry in the MBR the boot manager cannot detect this change.

3. cleared

The boot manager set's this entry to 0 in the MBR. An operating system cannot detect that there is/was a partition.

WARNING: if the boot manager has not stored the values of the partition in "Partitions" then you lose the partition values in the MBR and you cannot access the data on the partition. It's possible to restore those values, but it's better, easier and safe to store the values in Partitions.

Partition programs will say this is unallocated space! Do not partition this space! You can lose data if you do it wrong.

Linked partitions - hotkeys

b set boot partition. You select, what partition you want to boot with this profile. The boot manager set a bios drive number automatically. It's possible to change it with another key.

c clear partition. You set this entry to "cleared" and the boot manager cleares this entry in the MBR when you boot this profile.

d don't touch. You set the entry to don't touch and the boot manager does not change this entry when you boot this profile.

e edit boot flag. The boot flag has the bios drive number used by the boot sector routine. In some cases it's required to change this value.

r remove boot flag. Here, you remove the boot flag from the profile.

l set logial partition. You can set to boot from a logical partition 1-4 of an extended partition. Change the logical number by pressing "l". L1 = first logical, L2 = second, ...

Clear profile data

You can clear the profile data in the boot manager. The data in Partitions are not changed.

Reset changes

Use it if you changed something and want to restore the whole values of the profile in the boot manager. This is possible until you close the profile edit window.

3.3. Boot manager

Startmode

The boot manager has two modes to start. With the user interface menu and hidden.

For the hidden mode, you have to set the bootcounter and you have to select a default profile. The default profile boots after the countdown. The user can not see that there is a boot manager in the background. If you want to go into the boot manager, then press ESC.

Boot countdown

You can enable and disable the countdown.

If the bootcounter is enabled, the boot manager waits the given time and starts after the countdown the last used profile or the default profile, depending on your settings.

Edit boot countdown

Choose between 1 and 99 seconds.

Select at start

At start, the boot manager set the bar to the selected option. This works for the hidden start mode too.

You have the following options

1. Last booted profile

2. Default profile

3. Floppy

4. CDROM

5. USB

Default profile

You can select the default profile from a list of all visible profiles.

Show floppy boot

Show the floppy boot option in the main menu.

Show cdrom boot

Show the cdrom boot option in the main menu.

Show usb boot

Show the USB boot option in the main menu.

Force USB 1.1

Use USB 1.1 controller even if there is a USB 2.0 controller.

Mode 1: Ignore the EHCI Controller
Mode 2: Setup EHCI Controller and set all ports to the companion host. Some controllers need this option to force usb 1.1.

Use Mass Stor Dev

Use Mass Storage Device. Boot the X mass storage device that was found. Other devices are ignored.

Textmode after boot

You can select the textmode during the startup of an operating system. Choose between "don't change" or 80x50.

Graphicmode

Select the screen resolution in the boot manager. Choose between textmode 80x50 and graphicmode 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024.

Zoom animation

Enable and disable the window animation.

Font

Select the boot manager font or the bios font.

Starfield

Enable and disable the starfield animation.

Masterpassword

Setup the master password. Disable the boot manager password protection with an empty password.

Setuppassword

Setup the setup password. Disable the boot manager setup password protection with an empty password.


9. Configure the Boot Manager binary plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt

plpcfgbt-0.10.zip is a tool to configure the binary version plpbt.bin of the boot manager. This program is available for Windows and Linux. You start the program from a command shell. If you run the program without parameters then you will see the help information. 

Usage: plpcfgbt [OPTIONS] file

Options:
========

 parameter    meaning
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 vm           setup video mode
              values: text, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024

 stm          start mode of the boot manager
              values: menu or hidden, hidden requires cnt=on and dbt not off

 cnt          activate countdown, values: on or off

 cntval       countdown in seconds between 1 and 99

 dbt          default boot, values: off, profile, floppy, cdrom, usb

 dprf         use default profile value between 1 and 16

 stf          starfield, values: on or off

 zan          windows zoom animation, values: on or off

 fnt          set font, values: bt or bios

 usb1         force usb 1.1
              values:   off
                        1 = Mode 1 = skip ehci
                        2 = Mode 2 = force ehci to companion

 usbmdev      use usb massdev 1-99 (obsolete)

 int19h       do not boot the os and use int19h, values: on or off

 hotkey       startup hotkey, values: yes or no

 prf          set profile, value: 1-16

 prfname      set profilename 16 chars, 'prf' must be set

 btdrv        boot drive, 80h-89h, 'prf' must be set

 btprt        boot partition 1-4, 'prf' must be set

 btlog        boot log partition, 1-4, 'prf' must be set

 skippcmcia   skip pcmcia check, values: yes or no

 fastpcmcia   skip pcmcia check after usb card was found, values: yes or no

 ignoreusbdev ignore number of usb devices 0-99
 
 hiddenusb    automatic usb boot without showing the boot manager
 hiddencdrom  automatic cdrom boot without showing the boot manager

Infos about int19h see here.
The hotkey option is useful with CD's or ROM's. You get the info to press CTRL-A to start the boot manager. If you don't press it, the the booting continues without the boot manager.

Examples


10. Create your own ISO file with your modfied plpbt.bin

plpbt-createiso.zip is a simple script to create a custom plop boot manager iso by Elmar Hanlhofer. There is one script for Windows and one script for Linux in the zip file. The scripts are using mkisofs from cdrtools.

How to use with Windows

How to use with Linux


11. Configure the Boot Manager binary plpbt.bin with parameters (Linux Kernel Command Line)

You can configure the boot manager without patching the file when you use the "append" option of common linux boot managers. With append you are able to pass some configuration parameters to the boot manager (plpbt.bin only).

List of supported parameters

ParameterMeaning
hiddenusbis the short version of "stm=hidden cnt=on cntval=1 dbt=usb"
hiddencdromis the short version of "stm=hidden cnt=on cntval=1 dbt=cdrom"
usb1=1Force USB 1.1 Mode 1 (ignore the EHCI controller)
usb1=2Force USB 1.1 Mode 2 (force EHCI ports to usb 1.1)
vm=textSwitch to text mode
fnt=biosSwitch font to bios font
int19h=onUse INT19h instead of booting usb

Example syslinux.cfg: 

# configure the boot manager to start in text mode

label plp
    linux plpbt.bin
    append vm=text

# configure the boot manager to start in hidden mode and 
# boot usb with forcing usb 1.1 mode 1

label plp2
    linux plpbt.bin
    append "hiddenusb usb1=1"

12. Create a PCI boot manager option ROM (save in bios)

You can create a pci option rom file with plpbtrom-0.6.zip. You can store the option rom in your bios or to the rom of a network card and run it from there. 

Usage: plpbtrom [OPTIONS] input-file output-file

Options:
========
 -h               this help
 -vendorid        id hex value of the card vendor
 -deviceid        id hex value of device
 -grabid          grab vendor/device id from PCI ROM file
 -hidden          disable option rom text output
 -nodisable       do not allow option rom disable
 -forceINT        force hook interrupt
 -INT18           hook int 18h
 -compress        compress option rom
 -size  set rom to a size. examples: 64k, 128k, 1m, ...

 input-file   boot manager file (ex. plpbtrom.bin)
 output-file  ROM file name

Examples

Special parameters

Files

Difference plpbtrom.bin and plpbt.bin

How to test a ROM

How to flash an AMI bios

Do this at your own risk! This can damage your pc.

How to flash an AWARD bios

Do this at your own risk! This can damage your pc.


13. plpbt4win

plpbt4win makes it easy to add/remove the boot manager from the windows boot menu. The program can work with the boot.ini and with bcdedit. It automatically detects the required method. You can use it as batch file or run it with an builtin command line. You find plpbt4win in the Windows directory of plpbt-5.0.13.zip

Feature list:

Help for batch mode:

plpbt4win [/?] [/B] [/C [FILE]] [/L] [/A [NAME]] [/R <ID>] [/BIN <FILE>] [/D]

 /?          Help
 /B          Batch mode
 /BIN <FILE> Set the program filename. Default is "c:\plop\plpbt.bin"
 /C [FILE]   Create the plop boot manager loader program. Set the output
             filename. The default filename is "c:\plop\plpbt4win.ldr"
 /L          List windows boot menu entries
 /A [NAME]   Add to the windows boot menu a new entry. The default name is
             "Plop Boot Manager"
 /R <ID>     Remove the menu entry from the windows boot menu. ID is the
             number of the menu entry
 /D          Debug mode

Batch mode examples:

Help for built in command line:

Start plpbt4win without parameter.

Command (? for help):  
 ?          Help
 bin <FILE> Set the program filename. Default is "c:\plop\plpbt.bin"
 c [FILE]   Create the plop boot manager loader program. Set the output
            filename. The default filename is "c:\plop\plpbt4win.ldr"
 l          List windows boot menu entries
 a [NAME]   Add to the windows boot menu a new entry. The default name is
            "Plop Boot Manager"
 r <ID>     Remove the menu entry from the windows boot menu. ID is the
            number of the menu entry
 d          Activate/disable debug mode 
 v          Show current values
 q          Quit

14. PCMCIA CardBus - USB PC-Card

Many old laptops are having one or two CardBus slots. The boot manager can act as USB PC-Card enabler and the boot manager makes it possible to boot from the USB PC-Card. When your laptop has only USB 1.1, then you can speed up the boot process with an USB 2.0 PC-Card. When your laptop has only one USB port, then you are able to get more USB ports with an USB PC-Card.

You find the boot manager with the CardBus driver in the pcmcia directory of plpbt-5.0.13.zip.

The boot manager initializes the CardBus during the boot manager startup. This means, the PC-Card must be plugged in during the boot manager start! I do this during the program start, because then you have an initialized and ready to use PC-Card regardless if you boot from usb or not. When you have a DOS USB driver (for OHCI and EHCI) then you are able to use it with the PC-Card and you don't need a extra CardBus driver.

During the boot manager startup you will see some infos about the CardBus init process. When you want to read it, then press the CTRL key during the boot manager start.

Notes:


15. Disable the USB driver under DOS

If you run DOS and the Plop USB driver is loaded, then you can disable the USB driver with plpdisd-0.2.zip. When you disable the driver, then you are able to load other DOS usb drivers.

You can run plpdisd from config.sys 

DEVICE=c:\tools\plpdisd.exe

It's also possible to run it from the autoexec.bat or command line.


16. Detect the USB driver under DOS

With the program plpchk-0.1.zip you are able to detect the plop usb driver. You can use it in the config.sys, in a batch program or from the command line. The program is able to create a file when the driver is installed, or delete a file when the driver was not detected. According to the existence of the file you can do some actions. For batch files you can use the return value of the errorlevel. The program makes no screen output when you use the /h parameter. 

plpchk [/?] [/h] [file]

  /?      help
  /h      hide text output
  file    create this file when the driver was detected or remove it when the
          driver was not detected
		
config.sys example: DEVICE=c:\tools\plpchk.exe c:\tmp\plpusb
		
For batch processing: ERRORLEVEL 0 = no driver detected
                                 1 = driver detected

You find some driver detection infos here.


17. Detect the USB driver with syslinux

Icecube wrote the module ifplop.c32 for syslinux to detect the plop usb driver

Example syslinux.cfg:

default plopcheck

# Check for the presence of plop (run by default)
#   When plop INT13 hook is found, run the first label
#   When plop INT13 hook isn't found, run the second label

label plopcheck
    com32 ifplop.c32
    append plop_detected -- plop_not_detected
	
# When plop INT13 hook was found, boot the menu system.
# plop can have added USB2.0 speed, so the entries we want to boot
# will be read from disk much faster (supposing that we have a BIOS
# that only supports USB1.1 speed).

label plop_detected
    com32 menu.c32
    append syslinux.cfg
		
# plop INT13 hook wasn't found, so we boot plop

label plop_not_detected
    linux plpbt.bin

ifplop.c32 is part of syslinux since version 4.01.
ifplop.c32 module page: http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/Ifplop.c32

You find some driver detection infos here.


18. Hidden partition / Cleared partition

There is a important difference between "hidden" and "cleared" partitions.


19. Hide a partiton

This is an example: A partition should be visible in one profile and hidden (and not cleared) in another profile

Lets say you want to have the second partition on HDA (HDA2) on one profile visible and on another hidden (and not cleared).


20. USB info


21. Video dual boot install Windows XP and Windows XP

Download demoinstall.wmv (demoinstall.zip). The quality is not the best but you see all required steps. I hope its useful.


22. Windows XP and Windows Vista dual boot with hidden (cleared) partitions

The goal is to install Windows XP on the first partition and Windows Vista on the second partition. I want that no windows has access to the partition of the other Windows. There should be a third partition that will be used as shared partition. Both Windows have access to this partition.

There are many ways to do this. I will describe one way.

It works only with the Harddisk installation!

What should be the result

Basic conditions

The description

Install Windows XP

At first install Windows XP. Create with the Windows installer a partition with the size you want. I use a 10GB partition. Install Windows XP on this partition.

Setup Partitions

When you installed your Windows, go to the Disk Management and create a second primary partition for Vista and a third primary partition for the shared data.

Install the boot manager

Now comes the boot manager part. Boot from the boot manager install floppy or CD. Install the boot manager to the harddisk and then reboot.

Configure the Windows XP profile

The boot manager created a profile called "os harddisk 1" to boot Windows XP. It also imported the 3 primary partitions. The names are HDA1, HDA2 and HDA3.

Now go to setup and profiles. Select os harddisk 1. Give it the new label windows xp.

Select linked partitions. Press enter at the first slot of HDA and select HDA1. At the second slot press c to set it to cleared. You can leave the third slot as don't touch or select HDA3. See the difference at configure partition entries.

Configure the Windows Vista profile

Now leave the configuration of Windows XP and go to an empty profile in Profiles. Give it the label windows vista. Set show in main menu to yes. Now select linked partitions. Press at the first slot c to set it to cleared. At the second slot press b to set the boot flag. Press enter and select HDA2. On the third slot choose the same as for windows xp (don't touch or HDA3).

Install Window Vista

Go back to the main menu. Now you see windows xp and windows vista. Move to windows vista and press Enter. This writes the profile settings to the harddisk. The booting will fail, because Vista is not installed. Now boot the Windows Vista install DVD. In the installer you should see at the partitions screen at first an unallocated space (there is xp installed) and 2 primary partitions. Select the first primary partition to install Windows Vista. when the Windows Vista installation has been finished, it's possible, that Vista is booting immediately and the Plop Boot Manager does not come. In this case use Write mbr loader only from the Plop Boot Manager install floppy or CD.

Now you should have two bootable Windows on your harddisk and they don't know from each other. You can share data between both with the shared partition.

Windows Vista on the second harddisk

It's similar to the previous description, if you want to install Windows XP on the first harddisk and Windows Vista on the second harddisk. The second harddisk is HDB in the boot manager. So install Windows Vista to the first partition of the second harddisk. Set in the vista profile/linked partitions the first slot of HDB to HDB1 and press b. The boot manager will set the boot flag to 81h. This should be ok for your installation.


23. Dualboot Windows XP and Windows 7

Here are short instructions for a complete new installation of your pc with dualbooting WinXP and Win7. It doesn't matter if you use 32 or 64 bit versions. Take care, all data on your pc will be deleted!

Boot the Win7 install DVD. Remove all partitions from the harddisk. Create a partition for Win7. The install program will create 2 partitions. One with about 80MB for the Win7 boot files and a second partition with the Win7 files. Create an additional partition for WinXP. Now you see 3 partitions. Install Win7 to the second partition. After the Win7 installation is complete, install the Plop Boot Manager. After the Boot Manager installation go to the Boot Manager Setup, then Profiles, then "OS HARDDISK 1". Change the name to "Win7". Go to linked partitions and press enter on the first position of HDA and select HDA1, on the second select HDA2 and on the third press "c" for cleared. Now leave the profile settings for Win7. Use now an empty profile to create the WinXP profile. Give it the name WinXP, visible in main menu "yes". In linked parttitions select for HDA on the first position HDA3, press "b" to set the bootflag on the first position. On the second press "c" to set it cleared. On the third press "c" to set it to cleared too. Go to the main menu and press enter on WinXP. You will be not able to boot this partition because XP is not installed currently. If you get the message about invalid boot signature, then press "n" to abort. Now boot the WinXP install CD. You should see now only one partition. Install WinXP there. After the installation completed then start the Plop Boot Manager install CD and use "Install mbr loader only". Reboot, the boot manager will tell you about partition changes. Press "y" to import the new values. Now you should be able to boot both systems.


24. Using the Boot Manager as USB harddisk driver for DOS

I know this is very special. Maybe it's useful for some people. You have to configure the plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt to use int19h instead of booting the operating system.

plpcfgbt int19h=on plpbt.bin

Now you have to start plpbt.bin with a boot manager like grub, syslinux or what ever during boot time (supported boot managers see here). Choose USB and the boot manager will install the usb driver and go back to your boot manager. If you start DOS you will have access to your usb drive as last harddisk. But remember, the usbdrive is only as "read only" device available.

If it works for you then use plpcfgbt int19h=on stm=hidden cnt=on cntval=1 dbt=usb plpbt.bin

To disable the usb driver from DOS see plpdisd.


25. NOD32 Virus report

This problem was fixed but with the new NOD32 versions it's back. It's a false report.


26. FAQ's - Frequently asked questions

  1. I booted DOS from USB and I cannot write on the drive

  2. Are there plans to add write support in the future

  3. The boot manager detect's my usb cdrom, but booting hangs

  4. My USB keyboard does not work when I booted from USB

  5. Can I use my USB PC-Card (PCMCIA CardBus) to boot from USB

  6. I want to install the boot manager from my USB device, but I cannot choose my internal harddisk

  7. I use plpbt.bin and it forgets my settings

  8. I can not boot from my SATA CD/DVD drive

  9. I was reading VIEW/EDIT/COPY data in the forum, where is this menu

  10. Mainmenu network boot: !PXE structure was not found in UNDI

  11. My USB DVD drive is detected, but I cannot boot

 

  1. I booted DOS from USB and I cannot write on the drive

    My drivers have no write routines implemented. You want to know why? My intention was to have USB drivers for UHCI, OHCI and EHCI controllers in my tiny boot manager. The space to install the boot manager without the need of a partition is very limited. So there was no space left for write routines.

  2. Are there plans to add write support in the future

    It's in my mind, but there are no fix plans.

  3. The boot manager detect's my usb cdrom, but booting hangs

    USB CD/DVD drives are not supported.

  4. My USB keyboard does not work when I booted from USB

    USB keyboards are not supported by my drivers. When you boot Linux or Windows, then your keyboard will work again when those operating systems are taking control over the USB hardware.

  5. Can I use my USB PC-Card (PCMCIA CardBus) to boot from USB

    Yes, with the pcmcai version of the boot manager

  6. I want to install the boot manager from my USB device, but I cannot choose my internal harddisk

    The problem with installing on the internal (in this case the second) harddisk with the installer is, that the installer imports the partitions from the usb device and thinks this are the partitions of the first harddisk. When the boot manager boot's later from the real harddisk then the imported partitions are not correct. You see the problem? Sure it would be possible to add an option to handle this situation, but there are so many other ways to install the boot manager, that there are no plans to add this feature to the installer (except, many people request this feature).

  7. I use plpbt.bin and it forgets my settings

    You have to configure plpbt.bin with plpcfgbt. All changes you make within the boot manager menu are only valid until you reboot. The changes are not saved.

  8. I can not boot from my SATA CD/DVD drive

    SATA CD/DVD drives are not supported. Only IDE CD/DVD drives are working.

  9. I was reading VIEW/EDIT/COPY data in the forum, where is this menu

    'VIEW/EDIT/COPY' data has been renamed to 'Edit MBR/Import data' (setup/partitions/partition edit).

  10. Mainmenu network boot: !PXE structure was not found in UNDI

    Your network rom is a 'PXE Split ROM'. Currently only 'Monolithic' roms are supported

  11. My USB DVD drive is detected, but I cannot boot

    Booting from USB CD/DVD drives is not supported by the current usb driver


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