From: "Chris Robinson" 

Randall Parker wrote:

> A friend and I use the Phar Lap real-time OS ETS for some embedded
> work. We need to modify the USB compact flash boot sector as part of
> making a compact flash disk capable of booting the real-time OS.
>
> Phar Lap provides a utility that will run on Win9x and WinME to
> modify the boot sector to put their stuff on it. But that doesn't
> work with NT/Win2k/XP. Phar Lap is working on a solution but I am
> looking for a work-around to use now.
>
> So here's ny first idea: Is there some kind of low level copy command
> that will copy from one compact flash disk to another?
>
> Second idea: Is there a way to copy from a file which is a image of a
> flash disk and   copy that low-level onto the flash disk and thereby
> update the boot sector?
>
> Third idea: The error dialog box we get running the old Pharl Lap
> utility says "16 bit MS DOS subsystem  ... An application has
> attempted to directly access the hard disk which can not be
> supported". Is there any way to enable Win2k or WinXP to allow this
> call to succeed?
>
> Fourth idea: How could I read the contents of a Phar Lap formatted
> disk to get their modification and then use that in a little program
> of my own which is compatible with Win2k and XP to do the same thing
> as they do?

I wonder if WINE on Linux would run the utility?  If so, you could
customise a Knoppix disk to your own specs (even put company logo on etc),
then have the users boot from the CD and straight into the utility?  Might
be worht a shot if you're stuck for ideas?

Chris.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5