Title: OpenStep 4.2 patched 2.88MB boot disk image.
Post by: pTeK on June 26, 2025, 05:41:57 AM
Post by: pTeK on June 26, 2025, 05:41:57 AM
Here is a 2.88MB bootable disk image made of the Patched OpenStep 4.2 system which contains the VESA boot loader but the original 4.2 Kernel. This disk contains the PIIX4 EIDE driver. The problem with that is that when selected and when you install from the CD at boot it will keep asking for the same version of EIDE driver when you carry on booting.
The instructions to build this disk can be found here: https://peterwong.net/blog/creating-an-openstep-boot-cd-2/ (https://peterwong.net/blog/creating-an-openstep-boot-cd-2/). By using the the patch 4.2 boot loader you can see what VESA modes your system supports as shown by the picture below. I was hoping that the IDE toggle in the BIOS would allow the IDE emulation so that the EIDE driver would detect it but no luck :(. we really do need a SATA driver :'( .
The instructions to build this disk can be found here: https://peterwong.net/blog/creating-an-openstep-boot-cd-2/ (https://peterwong.net/blog/creating-an-openstep-boot-cd-2/). By using the the patch 4.2 boot loader you can see what VESA modes your system supports as shown by the picture below. I was hoping that the IDE toggle in the BIOS would allow the IDE emulation so that the EIDE driver would detect it but no luck :(. we really do need a SATA driver :'( .
EDIT: (Wed 02/July/2026) I forgot to upload the disk image. I have uploaded it and this was created with VirtualBox on Lubuntu. No warranties or liabilities are given.
On Version 4.2 of the bootloader /usr/standalone/i386/boot it allows support for compressed Kernel images the tool for that can be found here: https://github.com/evolver56k/Darwin-0.3/tree/master/boot-2/i386/rcz (https://github.com/evolver56k/Darwin-0.3/tree/master/boot-2/i386/rcz). This is not supported on the V3 boot loader, supplied on the NS3.3 USR CD and disks. I also don't know if it is supported on V4.0 as I just use NS3.3 and OS4.2. You can check by the following command:
Code Select
# od -s3 /usr/standalone/i386/boot |grep rcz
Title: Re: OpenStep 4.2 patched 2.88MB boot disk image.
Post by: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 01:46:49 PM
Post by: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 01:46:49 PM
Is there an extended set of drivers in this 2.88MB image? I'm in need of the 53C876 driver in a .img file for a gotek/flash-floppy based install...
Title: Re: OpenStep 4.2 patched 2.88MB boot disk image.
Post by: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 02:32:10 PM
Post by: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 02:32:10 PM
Quote from: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 01:46:49 PMIs there an extended set of drivers in this 2.88MB image? I'm in need of the 53C876 driver in a .img file for a gotek/flash-floppy based install...Well, i found the actual 4.2 stuff over here:
https://fsck.technology/software/NeXT/OpenStep%20Installation%20Media/OpenStep%204.2/OpenStep%204.2%20Boot%20Disks/
This actually had a nicer set of drivers available, however even after loading the 53C876 driver, it couldn't find the controller on the bus :( Good thing is the EIDE drivers seem to be working better, so I've got a bare-bones ATAPI drive and CF-Card combo busily installing now.
I'd really prefer to actually use the SCSI drives I have, but... :(
Title: Re: OpenStep 4.2 patched 2.88MB boot disk image.
Post by: pTeK on July 16, 2025, 07:08:05 PM
Post by: pTeK on July 16, 2025, 07:08:05 PM
The OpenStep 4.2 floppies are also found on this site in the following folder https://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Software/OPENSTEP/Floppy_Images/ (https://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Software/OPENSTEP/Floppy_Images/). Unfortunately the image I created had EIDE v4.01 and the Adaptec driver that can be found on the User CD when installing so it doesn't prompt you for a floppy disk at boot time.
If I could have compressed the kernel as mentioned in the first post than I would have added more drivers.
Glad you got it working with EIDE even if it is slow.
If I could have compressed the kernel as mentioned in the first post than I would have added more drivers.
Glad you got it working with EIDE even if it is slow.
Quote from: luVWagn on July 16, 2025, 02:32:10 PMThis actually had a nicer set of drivers available, however even after loading the 53C876 driver, it couldn't find the controller on the bus :(
EDIT: Do the PCI strings match on the 53C876 driver? You can check the strings in the /NextAdmin/Configure.app once installed.