Re: [PATCH] Make bootsector stub 16-bit-only (i386)

Andrew Morton
2007-05-08T10:29:07Z

On Sat, 5 May 2007 12:44:52 +0200 Alexander van Heukelum <heukelum@mailshack.com> wrote:

> The x86 bzImage contains a stub to inform people that it is not possible
> any more to run a Linux kernel by catting it to a floppy and then
> booting from it. This was meant to be all 16-bit code. The first
> instruction, however, ended up as being coded as a 16:32-bit far jump. I
> assume the intention was a 16:16-bit far jump.
>
> This patch changes only i386.
>
> Greetings,
> Alexander
>
> Signed-off-by: Alexander van Heukelum <heukelum@mailshack.com>
>
> ---
>
> diff --git a/arch/i386/boot/bootsect.S b/arch/i386/boot/bootsect.S
> index 011b7a4..ae9df0d 100644
> --- a/arch/i386/boot/bootsect.S
> +++ b/arch/i386/boot/bootsect.S
> @@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ #endif
> _start:
>
> # Normalize the start address
> - jmpl $BOOTSEG, $start2
> + jmpw $BOOTSEG, $start2

Sigh, another blow struck in the ongoing struggle between my Vaio and the
rest of the world.

Stone-cold black-screen lockup immediately upon boot.

Stock FC5 install, config at