install.txt

GAG

GRAPHICAL BOOT MANAGER

GAG is a Boot Manager program, this is, a program that is loaded when the
computer is turned on and allows to choose the operating system you want
to use. Its main features are:

        -Allows you to boot up to 9 different operating systems.

        -Can boot operating systems installed in primary and extended
        partitions. They can be installed on any hard disk too.

        -GAG doesn't need its own partition. It installs itself in the
        first track of the hard disk, which is reserved for this kind of
        programs. It can also be installed on a floppy disk, without using
        the hard disk.

        -Has a timer to boot a default operating system (selectable by
        the user).

        -The configuration menu can be protected with a password. Also,
        each operating system can be protected with its own password.

        -The program works in graphic modes (needs a VGA or better graphic
        card), and has a lot of icons.

        -Hides the primary partitions, allowing the installation of more
        than one DOS and/or Windows OS on the same hard disk.

        -Can exchange disk drives, allowing to boot from the second, third...
        hard disk operating systems such as MS-DOS.

        -Has a SafeBoot system, which allows you to boot your hard disk even if
        GAG is accidentally overwritten.


DISCLAIMER

GAG is a program distributed 'as is', without any warranty of any kind. The
author will not be responsible if there is loss of data on your hard disk or
any other problem. Use it at your own risk.

GAG is distributed under a GPL license. For more information, just read the
COPYING file.


INSTALLATION

GAG is distributed as a floppy disk image, install it you will need
need an blank 3 1/2 inch, high density, formatted floppy. This allows you
to install GAG without worrying about what operating system you have.

Starting with GAG 4.01, all language versions are distributed on one
single disk, with a little installation program. You only have to create
the disk (see above the instructions of how to do it), boot your computer
from that disk, et voila! The instructions for using it, the FAQ and the
license can be read from the installer program.

You can put this file (DISK.DSK) as the boot image of a bootable CD-ROM,
so you can have your GAG installer on a CD, instead of floppy. There's an
ISO image in this package that you can use, if you want, to create that
bootable CD-ROM (the file is GAG.ISO).

IMPORTANT: once created, the disk will be appear to be blank (this is, you
will not be able to read it from MS-DOS, Windows,...) but GAG is on it.
Just boot your computer from it.


CREATING THE BOOT DISK

First, you will need to create the floppy. That's done using the
RAWRITE2.EXE program.


FROM DOS

Insert the formatted disk in the floppy and type

        INSTALL.BAT

Then, the program will create the boot floppy.


FROM WINDOWS

Insert the formatted disk in your floppy drive.

Open the folder where you unzipped the GAG's zip file and double-click the
icon INSTALL.BAT

The program will create the boot floppy.


FROM OS/2

Open a DOS session (it can be window or full screen) and do the same that
in FROM DOS.

If the program returns a DMA error, edit the CONFIG.SYS file and modify
your DOS variable, putting it as

        DOS=HIGH,UMB

Default value is DOS=LOW,NOUMB.

If you prefer, you can use the native program IMAGE.EXE, that comes in
the OS/2 CD-ROM.


FROM LINUX/UNIX

Insert the formatted floppy in disk drive and type

        dd if=disk.dsk of=/dev/fd0 bs=512 count=2880

If you prefer, you can do too:

        cat disk.dsk > /dev/fd0

In other UNIX systems is possible you must use something different to
/dev/fd0.


OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS

You need a program that allows you to create floppies from disk images,
and use it to copy the file DISK.DSK into the floppy.


BOOTING GAG

Restart your computer and boot it with the created floppy. In your screen
will be shown the main menu of GAG Installer. Press '1' to read the
instructions, press '2' to read the FAQ, press '3' to read the license, or
press '4' to start the installation.


ERRORS RETURNED BY GAG Installer WHEN IT BOOTS

When GAG boots, makes some tests. If it founds an error, it shows a number
in the screen and halts the system. The errors are theses:

    GAG: 1

    BAD SECTOR: there was a read error when tried to load GAG. If you were
    booting from floppy, reinstall it on another floppy without bad sectors.
    If you were booting from hard disk, use SafeBoot to boot an operating
    system and reinstall GAG. If the error is still present, you have bad
    sectors in your hard disk.

    GAG: 3

    GAG INSTALLER NOT FOUND: the code loaded from the floppy or the hard
    disk does not have the GAG signature. Is possible that the first track
    has been overwritten. Make another installation disk and try again.



RECOMPILING GAG FROM THE SOURCES

Source code is stored in a directory called DEVEL.

In it you will find the source code for GAG, for the installation program,
the boot sector code, instruction files, FAQ, license, and the source code
for the disk image file generator.

Enjoy it!


CONTACTING THE AUTOR.

GAG has been written by

        Sergio Costas Rodriguez (RASTER SOFTWARE VIGO)
        raster@rastersoft.com
        http://www.rastersoft.com

GAG'S HOME PAGE

        http://www.rastersoft.com/gageng.htm

If in doubt, just write and ask me (but please, first read the instructions
and the FAQ, that are available from the installation program. I will NOT
answer questions that can be solved by reading those files. Those mails will
go directly to the trash).