Why?
FreeDOS is useful for low level debugging, BIOS upgrades etc.
Problems
Normal FreeDOS installation procedures are not very convenient, and don't work from other operating systems such as Windows.
makebootfat did not work in my tests, messes up disk geometry. The FreeDOS SYS utility will not run under Windows.
Traditional method
Use a normal PC system board with floppy or CD drive + IDE to CF adapter. Boot the system from floppy or CD, install the operating system on the CF card.
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How to
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Image copy
See freedos.zip for an example image. This works for the 128MB CF card (see picture 1), but not for cards with a different geometry.
Use Linux dd, or dd for Windows (special version included in the package).
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File copy
See freedos2.zip for an example tree. This method will work on Windows only (tested on XP). Unzip the archive to your hard disk.
Run install f: (where f: is the drive letter of the CF card in the USB card reader).
Then copy the latest BIOS upgrade files to the CF card.
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LBA image
Download freedos3.zip image file, unzip and write the image to CF card using physdiskwrite. Update any files as needed, then install the CF card on ALIX. Enter setup (press S during memory test), enter L (LBA) Q (quit) Y (yes). The system should boot from the CF card, run sb.com to reprogram flash.
Caveats: Make a backup of the blank CF card with dd if you want to reuse it - repartitioning CF cards is tricky. The LBA image works on CF cards of 16 MB or larger, but only gives you 16 MB total space no matter what size your card is.
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