Boot process of i386

From: P?l Huld?n (pal.hulden_at_tjohoo.se)
Date: 10/21/04 

Date: 21 Oct 2004 04:33:34 -0700

I have trouble to convince Fujitsu-Siemens helpdesk that I have a
hardware problem. Unfortunately due to installing Suse 9.1 dual
booting with Win XP my MBR was messed up.

When trying restore MBR using XP repair tool it was evident that my
DVD-player didn't boot properly and wouldn't start the XP
installation. Hardware error in my opinion. Suse installation CD
complained of read errors on the DVD, so did Gentoo 2004.1.

I called helpdesk. They tell me that since I installed Linux on my
computer this may either have damaged hardware (rediculus) or that the
messed up MBR prohibits CD boot (what can I say).

They insist on sending me floppies or even CDs (remember DVD don't
work properly) that wipe out the entire hard disk. I refuse to do that
since I know that it would hardly solve the problem, it would only
delete my already configured OS:es. I just want to repair MBR.

It is obvious that the support guys know less than I do about the boot
process. However I'm no guru, I sort of understand the process:

* BIOS does basic booting
* BIOS tries to load boot code from peripherials in BIOS setting order
1) USB-conneced device (this is a laptop so the floppy is USB
connected) 2) DVD 3) Harddisk 4) Network boot

Just to make sure that I am 100% correct: is there any chance in the
world that the harddisk is involved in the boot process when booting
from the CD. Or more generally: processor never involves anything from
peripherals later on in the boot chain.

Moreover: anyone know if there is any chance that OS installations
affect BIOS settings? The support guy told me the actually Windows XP
SP2 does this. Sounds incredible in my ears. But OK, it's technically
possible to write to BIOS flash (however BIOSes are motherboard
dependent aren't they), but would even Microsoft be so stupid that
they implemented a patch like that?

Please give me confirmation that my knowledge and assumptions are
correct, I'm starting to get terrible frustrated regarding this matter
now.

Sincerely
P. Hulden
Goteborg
Sweden

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