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 to boot up to 9 different operating systems.

        -Can boot operating systems instaled in primary and extended
        partitions. Them can be instaled in any hard disk too.

        -GAG doesn't need its own partition. It installs itself in the
        first track of the hard disk, wich is reserved for this kind of
        programs. It can also be instaled in 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 mode (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 in the same hard disk.

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

        -Has the SafeBoot system, that allows to boot your hard disk even if
        GAG is accidentally overwrited.


DISCLAIMER

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

GAG is distributed under a GPL license.


INSTALATION

GAG is distributed as a floppy disk image, so if you want to install it you
need an 3 1/2 inch, high density, formated empty floppy. This allows you
to install GAG without worrying about what operating systems you have.

Starting from GAG 4.01, all languaje versions are distributed into 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 use it, the FAQ and the
license can be readed from the installer program.

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


CREATING THE BOOT DISK

First, you need to create the floppy. That's why is included the
RAWRITE2.EXE program.


FROM DOS

Insert the formated disk and type

        RAWRITE2.EXE -f DISK.DSK -d A:

This will create a boot disk with GAG.


FROM WINDOWS

Restart the system in MS-DOS mode and do the same that in FROM DOS. You can
do it from a DOS window too.


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 formated floppy in disk drive and type

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

If you preffer, 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.


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 was
    booting from floppy, reinstall it in other floppy without bad sectors.
    If you was 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 has not the GAG signature. Is possible that the first track has
    been overwrite. Make again the disk.



RECOMPILING GAG FROM THE SOURCES

Source code and generation utilities are distributed in sepearated files, in
order to make an smaller distribution file. To get them, just go to:

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

click the 'download page' link, and download the file:

      gagdev.zip

In it you will find the source code for GAG, for the installation program,
the boot sector code, instruction files, FAQ, license, and the cource 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, read first the instructions
and the FAQ, that are available from the installation program).
