RM Build Disks on a USB stick

[mikeglover]

We currently have a RM CC3 network. I find it really annoying that to build machine on the network we have to use ancient floppy disks.

I've made several attempts to make a usb version of the RM Build Disks but failed everytime at different stages.

I've tried using GRUB and .img files of the RM disk but that didn't work as it puts the image in memory.

RM requires to write to the disk and is a 2 stage process with a reboot in the middle. (therefore dumping the disk to memory is no good)

The other way i've tried is copying contents of RM build disk to the memory stick (formatted as FAT16) and then writing the MBR from the floppy to the MBR of the memory stick. That didn't work either

 

Wondered if anyone has had any luck in making a usb RM build disk?

[sparkeh]

Wondered if anyone has had any luck in making a usb RM build disk?

 

Sure, loads of people use them.

Personally I use a stick that can emulate a floppy as I find this the easiest way.

[mjs_mjs]

We currently have a RM CC3 network. I find it really annoying that to build machine on the network we have to use ancient floppy disks.

I've made several attempts to make a usb version of the RM Build Disks but failed everytime at different stages.

I've tried using GRUB and .img files of the RM disk but that didn't work as it puts the image in memory.

RM requires to write to the disk and is a 2 stage process with a reboot in the middle. (therefore dumping the disk to memory is no good)

The other way i've tried is copying contents of RM build disk to the memory stick (formatted as FAT16) and then writing the MBR from the floppy to the MBR of the memory stick. That didn't work either

 

Wondered if anyone has had any luck in making a usb RM build disk?

 

you can buy memory sticks that appear as floppy drives - these work, we used them before moving to cc4... i'll look for a link...

[mjs_mjs]

you can buy memory sticks that appear as floppy drives - these work, we used them before moving to cc4... i'll look for a link...

 

see the previous thread

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/20020-cc3-boot-disk-usb-drive-2.html

[mikeglover]

Cool. Thanks for the link. I'll try using a standard pendrive first.

Contacted RM while back and they said they don't do those switch memory sticks anymore. :S

[Edu-IT]

They do sell them, I recently sent some back to them. I think they were around £15 each.

 

Netac 1GB Bootable Flash Drive

Part No. 1GG-232

• 1GG-232
  Netac 1GB Bootable Flash Drive
  

[sparkeh]

They are on the website: Clicky

[mikeglover]

Ah ok. Cheers folks

[mikeglover]

I now have a question regarding these

Netac 1GB Bootable Flash Drive

Is the FDD section of the disk limited to 1.44 MB?

 

What I'm getting at, is can I make a 'one RM disk to rule them all' with every driver on it that will be over 1.44 MB and put it on these type of sticks?

The RM website talks about a 512MB MiniSafe. Is this the floppy disk area where you can put all the drivers?

[nicholab]

You need a 2.88mb image to do the job.

[michaelf]

I've used the HP Drive Key Boot Utility with great success in the past

 

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?swItem=MTX-UNITY-I23839

And to answer the obvious first question, yes it will work with other brands (although I have only tested with Kingston). You simply select a USB drive letter, feed it a floppy and away you go.

[jon_Walsh]

On the RM Support site, look at DWN1424530:

Bootable USB flash drive (UFD) preparation utility for CC3/CC4 (RMPrepUSB)

[Edu-IT]

On the RM Support site, look at DWN1424530:

Bootable USB flash drive (UFD) preparation utility for CC3/CC4 (RMPrepUSB)

Make sure when you download this you use the latest version.

[mikeglover]

On the RM Support site, look at DWN1424530:

Bootable USB flash drive (UFD) preparation utility for CC3/CC4 (RMPrepUSB)

 

I've had a go using this and got stuck. I have a img file of a RM CC3 Standard disk.

Prepared the USB stick as Boot as FDD and also tried ZIP.

Selected MS-DOS bootable.

Selected Image to USB and choose the img file.

Did 0 defaults for the 3 options that come up.

Doesn't come up with any error but when I try to boot it. Says I/O Error.

 

Anyone got a guide on how to use this RMPrepUSB?

[mikeglover]

I've answered my question now.

 

Found this handy RM article

 

TEC1434450

 

Used a Kingston 512MB stick and it worked But on an RM One for the moment, tried a HP dc7800p and won't boot. Oh well, one step closer.

[s69]

CC3 Build pens must boot as drive A: - unfortunately most BIOSes nowadays try to boot USB mass storage devices as drive C:.

 

See TEC1656521 How to make a universal Community Connect 3 Workstation Build USB Flash memory pen - This tricks DOS into thinking it is booting from a floppy even if the BIOS thinks the USB pen is a 'hard disk' and normally boots as C:.

Using a similar technique, you could have all your CC3 build floppies on just one Flash pen and load any image - for example, just add to the menu.lst file for each disk image, using a menu entry such as:

 

title CC3 Build disk for RM Expert 3030 and 3020 (from Hard disk UFD)

map /build1.ima (fd0)

# map the first partition of the UFD as a floppy disk

map (hd0) (hd32)

# map the UFD as a CD

map (hd1) (hd0)

# map the real hard disk as hard disk 0

map --hook

# hook Int13 interrupts so all map changes take affect

rootnoverify (fd0)

# set the file root as the floppy disk

chainloader /io.sys

# load the io.sys code into memory from the floppy disk (now ufd is fd0)

map --floppies=1

map --harddrives=1

# Tweak BIOS device numbers so DOS sees 1 floppy and 1 hd

 

You can make an image of each of your floppies (or 1.44MB Netac USB pens) using the RMPrepUSB USB->File button and save as a .IMA file.

Edited August 19, 2011 by s69