MultiBoot - Multiple Desktop Boot Files

by Andrew Rawnsley


Multiboot provides easy access to multiple desktop boot files.  It also provides a system similar to that on the Risc PC, with a !PreDesk file and !System and !Scrap stored in the Resources directory. Directories which need booting at power-on (such as fonts, particular Cache directories etc.) can be included in the Resource directory, and will be Booted as normal.
MultiBoot comes in two version. One for the Risc PC, and the other for non Risc PC machines. When you click on the application in the RISC User menu program, two directories will appear. Inside these are the !Boot files. Then read the section below for your actual Acorn system.

Non-Risc PC version

Double Clicking on !Boot from inside desktop will launch !Configure as on a Risc PC. 

1) If you already have a !Boot file in the root
   directory of your hard disc, rename it.

2) Copy the !Boot application from this disc onto
   the hard disc.

3) Press F12

4) Type: *Configure Boot

5) Type: *Configure FileSystem <Filesystem>
         (where <filesystem> is ADFS or IDEFS
          or SCSIFS, depending on machine).

6) Type: *OPT 4,2

7) Now press Ctrl-Break.  The machine should reboot
   and you will see a box showing 6 alternative
   boot sequences.  Choose whichever you like.

Important Note
The file ChoicesBK is a backup copy of the choices
file in case of emergency.  It is locked against
accidental deletion.

Setting up Boot Sequence Names
In the directory !Boot, you will find a file
called Choices.  This can be loaded into !Edit and
edited.  Each line follows the following simple
formula:
  
  <Name given on menu> <Location of Bootfile>
  
So, for example, we have:
  
  1 <MultiBoot$Dir>.BootFiles.1
  
  This sets the shown name of the boot sequence
  to be "1" and the actual location of the file
  to be the file "1" in the BootFiles directory
  within !Boot.

Make sure there are always SIX lines in this file.

Setting Up Boot Sequences
These are best set up by loading the programs that you want, and then saving the state of the desktop by pressing Menu over the Acorn icon in the bottom left of the screen.

Move right off the Desktop Boot entry, and drag out the bootfile icon into the BootFiles directory in !Boot.

Now you can adjust the name of the file to suit what you have set up in the Choices file.

Repeat this for any further boot sequences, and
then press Ctrl-Break, and the whole system
should work!

Setting up Default Timeout Settings
This allows the system to wait for a set time in
case a boot file is selected, if no boot file is
selected then after this time the default file is
booted.

The first two lines of the Choices file MUST read:

DEFAULT: xxxxxxxxxx
TIMEOUT: n

Where xxxxxxxxxx is the name of the default Boot
file. Normally:

   DEFAULT: <MultiBoot$Dir>.BootFiles.1

n represents the number of seconds before the
default file is executed.  This is normally set
to 20, thus giving a 20 second delay, ie.

   TIMEOUT: 20

Note that the words DEFAULT: and TIMEOUT: are
case sensitive, and that a space follows the colon.

S!PreDesk
This file contains commands to load modules
before the desktop is started.  In general, you
would load Virus Protection modules or desktop
patches that must be loaded before the desktop
starts up.


Risc PC version

To Install
1) Copy !MultiBoot into the Root directory of your
hard disc.

2) Load the file !Boot.Choices.Boot.Desktop into
!Edit.  Remove any commands to load files from
the end of the file.

3) Add the following line onto the end of the file,
which should read: /Boot:Utils.HOff

   Run ADFS::4.$.!MultiBoot

Press Ctrl-Break, and the machine should boot up,
presenting you with a window offering 6 boot
sequences.

Important Note
The file ChoicesBK is a backup copy of the choices
file in case of emergency.  It is locked against
accidental deletion.

Setting up Boot Sequence Names
In the directory !Boot, you will find a file
called Choices.  This can be loaded into !Edit and
edited.  Each line follows the following simple
formula:
  
  <Name given on menu> <Location of Bootfile>
  
So, for example, we have:
  
  1 <MultiBoot$Dir>.BootFiles.1
  
  This sets the shown name of the boot sequence
  to be "1" and the actual location of the file
  to be the file "1" in the BootFiles directory
  within !Boot.
  
Make sure there are always SIX lines in this file.

Setting Up Boot Sequences
These are best set up by loading the programs
that you want, and then saving the state of the
desktop by pressing Menu over the Acorn icon in the bottom left of the screen.

Move right off the Desktop Boot entry, and drag out the bootfile icon into the BootFiles directory in !Boot.

Now you can adjust the name of the file to suit what you have set up in the Choices file.

Repeat this for any further boot sequences, and
then press Ctrl-Break, and the whole system
should work!

Setting up Default Timeout Settings
This allows the system to wait for a set time in
case a boot file is selected, if no boot file is
selected then after this time the default file is
booted.

The first two lines of the Choices file MUST read:

DEFAULT: xxxxxxxxxx
TIMEOUT: n

Where xxxxxxxxxx is the name of the Boot file to
default to. Normally:

   DEFAULT: <MultiBoot$Dir>.BootFiles.1

n represents the number of seconds before the
default file is executed.  This is normally set
to 20, thus giving a 20 second delay, ie.

   TIMEOUT: 20

Note that the words DEFAULT: and TIMEOUT: are
case sensitive, and that a space follows the colon.


 Copyright RISC User 1995