Hacking an OS/2 2.1 Floppy Set or CDROM Into a Bootable CDROM Media / ISO Image

(Once the video player has started, right selecting (or 'clicking') your device (or 'mouse') will show menu option, 'Open video in new tab', which will enable larger screen size. Alternatively, the video with larger screen size is shown in the Calli collection front page)




Although IBM OS/2 3.x Warp and higher indigitalizations have been hacked into bootable CDROM media / ISO images, I believe this is the first OS/2 2.x which has been morphed into such an unique entity. The procedure was not easy -- and obviously not intuitive. The work required to make the cdboot hack complete the first phase of the OS/2 2.1 installation was substantial; and once I achieved it I thought that whatever else needed to be done would be easier. I was mistaken. I had to compile an utility to search for and replace strings in the OS/2 2.1 CONFIG.SYS file at the end of the first phase of the OS/2 installation -- as I could not find an appropriate binary one in my extensive local collection of Hobbes CDROM media, etc., nor online at Hobbes site and/or elsewhere.

Had IBM released the OS/2 code as free and/or open source software (FOSS) instead of being so indifferent to the multiple petitions to do so (for instance those in which I personally took part at the OS2World site before I left the site for good -- as I had moved on to GNU/Linux Debian) the avaricious plutocrat Bill Gates' mediocre 'creation', backdoored software, idiotically named as a mundane household notion, 'windows,' would not have spread like the virus it emulates.

Generating an OS/2 2.1x bootable CD under GNU/Linux Debian -based Metztli Reiser4:

Shell

genisoimage --b boot/boot.img -c boot/boot.catalog -o os2bootcd.iso .

Generally speaking, even if your bootable two(2) disk image is successfully created, if  it can not make the transition to the OS/2 disks layout on the CD, i.e., can not detect it due an older driver like IBM1S506.ADD (see snapshot below), the boot procedure will stop with the output:

The system cannot find the file "A:\COUNTRY.SYS". This device driver, program, or data file is not located in the default path or the path specified for it in the CONFIG.SYS file. Install this file in the correct directory, or correct the appropriate CONFIG.SYS file statement.

The system is stopped.

Correct the preceding error and restart the system.

OS/2 2.1.x Bootable CD error due to older IBM1S506.ADD
OS/2 2.1.x Bootable CD error due to older IBM1S506.ADD
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 425
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 425
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 426
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 426

Shell

cmd /"PACK bundle.list bundle /L"

If, unlike myself, you are not using the Korn Shell under OS/2, then the command delimited by double quotes is sufficient.
OS/2 PACK a list of files
OS/2 PACK a list of files
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 427
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 427
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 428
OS/2 PROGRAMER'S DESK REFERENCE pg. 428

CONVERT FROM 2.1 BASE VIDEO INTO 3.0 BASE VIDEO IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MONITOR CONFIGURATION FEATURE OF THE 3.0 SYSTEM ICON

  • Hint 4)
    Display driver reference lists the binary files that compose the base video subsystem and explains the difference in the installation between 3.0 and 2.1. Search for VIDEOCFG to see all references.
  • i.e.,
    MONITOR.DIF
    VCFGINST.EXE
    VCFGMRI.DLL
    VIDEOCFG.206 (To be renamed as VIDEOCFG.DLL when copied over to OS/2 v2.11)
    VIDEOCFG.DLL (This is for OS/2 Warp 3)
    VIDEOPMI.DLL
    WPVIDSYS.DLL
Convert from OS/2 v2.1 BASE VIDEO into 3.0 BASE VIDEO
Convert from OS/2 v2.1 BASE VIDEO into 3.0 BASE VIDEO


Dual-booting with OS/2 for SMP v2.11 and Warp 3 Connect Uni-Processor.
Caveat: If using a single CPU/CORE, then the CONFIG.SYS FOR OS/2 for SMP v2.11 must have disabled the statement
PSD=OS2APIC.PSD /APIC
i.e.,
REM PSD=OS2APIC.PSD /APIC

else, it will not dual-boot with an OS/2 Uni-Processor in a VirtualBox 7.0.14 (currently being used).

VGA from GRADD077 works in OS/2 v2.11
VGA from GRADD077 works in OS/2 v2.11

REFERENCES:
Creating bootable CD-ROMs
(work in progress)