GAG boot loader needs improvement IMHO

[Eric "Shubes"]

Is there some reason you don't simply put /boot in a separate partition?

If/when the mbr gets clobbered, restoring grub to the mbr is easy. Simply
boot a knoppix or rescue cd and:
# grub
grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup (hd0)
grub> quit
# reboot

JT Moree wrote:
> Anyone here know assembler and want to pick up a project?
> 
> BACKGROUND
> I have started using the GAG (http://gag.sourceforge.net) boot loader
> instead of grub to manage my multiple OSes because it is small and self
> contained and does not require files to be in a partition (i know.
> that's the reason FOR using grub in the first place)
> 
> Every time I do a new install of an OS i have been putting the boot
> loader in the root partition.  some installers dont give you that option
> and blow away grub in the MBR.  Since my MBR GRUB was not tied to a
> particular OS but to the system overall (i faked it into working this
> way) it is never easy to get grub set back the way I want it.
> 
> Hence the reason for using GAG.  if GAG gets blown away I simply boot
> sysrescuecd and re-install it.  I don't have to worry about having a
> running distro and pointing grub files to correct locations.  I have
> toyed with the idea of making a specialized grub boot distro that works
> more like this--if you know of one already please bring it to my attention.)
> 
> THE PROJECTS
> GAG works great but looks like Win 3.1.  I'd like to make it look
> better.  There are some issues:
> 1) It is written in assembler--i don't know how to program assembler and
> looking at the code hasn't helped.
> 2)  It's in Borland Turbo Assembler
> 
> PROJECT #1
>  find a TASM compatible free software assembler.  been trying with no
> success.  popasm says it supports tasm syntax but project is dead and
> code doesn't work.
> 
> #2
>   port GAG from turbo assembler (TASM) syntax to something else that can
> be compiled with free software
> 
> #3
>   Find borland TASM.  if you have borland's turbo assembler and are not
> using it or know where it can be legally downloaded I would like to try
> to compile GAG using it.  or you can compile GAG for me but I still
> can't program in assembler so this project is only marginally helpful.
> 
> #4 HACK GAG.  make changes to GAG so it looks like this
> http://pcxperience.org/jt/gag/mockup.jpg
> instead of looking like this
> http://gag.sourceforge.net/pics.html
> 
> #5 IMPROVE GAG.  I have a whole page dedicated to ideas on making GAG
> themes.
> http://www.cwelug.org/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi?GagThemes
> 
> If someone can do 4 or 5 we can send the code to the original developer
> to compile it but that seems like a very inefficient way to develop code.
> 
> OTHER INFO
> I am not tied to a particular OS for these projects.  FreeDOS works just
> as well as Linux.  Windows is even an option since most of us have it.
> The key component is using Free Software to compile the GAG program
> (which is GPL'd).
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to read this entire email.
> 

-- 
-Eric 'shubes'