extipl.txt for FreeBSD/Linux
January 6, 2001
(trans. Jan. 6, 2001)
takamiti@tsden.org
extipl@tsden.org
http://www.tsden.org/takamiti/extipl/
(translator Ryutaroh Matsumoto <ryutaroh@tsden.org>)
==============================================================================
1. Introduction
1.1 What is Extipl?
1.2 Limitations and Cautions
1.3 Copyrights and Conditions for Distribution
2. Usage
2.1 Commands of Extipl
2.1.1 save
2.1.2 fdtest
2.1.3 install
2.1.4 restore
2.1.5 show
2.1.6 chgboot
2.1.6 clrboot
2.2 On the Filenames of Hard Disks
3. Before Installation
4. Installation and Usage of Gemini
4.1 Using Gemini on a Floppy Disk
4.2 Installation of Gemini on a Hard Disk
4.3 Additional Operations in Gemini
4.4 Change of Disk Identifiers
5. Boot Selectors in Extipl
5.1 Gemini
5.2 Taurus
5.3 Aquila
5.4 Scorpius
6. Treatment of Extended Partitions
7. Error Codes
8. Appendix
8.1 Structures of Internal Selectors
8.2 Options for Debugging Extipl
1. Introduction
1.1 What is Extipl?
There was an educational OS "Minix" written by Andrew Tannenbaum. It
was compatible with UNIX version 7, and ran on Intel 8086 CPU. Several
people, including me (T. Kimura), made it able to print
Japanese. The Japanese version of Minix was called Minix-V.
In the development of Minix-V, they have to select which Minix or
Minix-V is booted. But I could not find a favorite boot selector,
and I wrote one, which is called assistIPL. The name was changed to
extipl later.
AssistIPL can only be installed on Minix(-V). But users want to
install it on other OS. So I rewrote it using bcc and tasm, added an
installer on MS-DOS, and released it as extipl.
Currently extipl is maintained on the following environments:
caldera DR-DOS 7.02
lsic-86 3.30c for trial
nasm 0.98
FreeBSD/Linux
gcc
nasm 0.98
Extipl version 5 has 4 internal boot selectors, which have the
following properties. See Section 5 for more details.
(1) They have complete upper compatibility with the Original IBM
IPL.
(2) They can boot an OS in a nonactive partition.
(3) They can boot an OS in an extended partition.
(4) They support the DR-DOS password function.
(5) They can change the active partition before booting.
(6) They can boot an OS in the second or later hard disks.
(7) They can be installed on a floppy disk, and leave your hard
disk unchanged.
(8) They support LBA access. Thus they can boot an OS at the end of
a large hard disk.
The boot partition selectors installed from extipl are independent
of OS, while the installer depends on OS. The boot partition
selectors of extipl work even if Linux/FreeBSD partitions are deleted
or hard disk is repartitioned.
1.2 Limitations and Cautions
Please note the following:
* DISK BIOS (int 13h) limits the capability of boot partition
selectors. For example, you cannot boot an OS in a partition that
cannot be accessed through BIOS.
* The boot partition selector installed from extipl only read an OS
specific loader at the first sector in a partition and execute
it. It depends on the OS specific loader whether you can boot an OS
in a nonactive partition, an extended partition, or the second hard
disk.
* When all partitions are made nonactive by "clrboot" command of
extipl, some BIOS cannot boot an OS. In such a case please make some
partition active.
* If the order of boot devices is C: -> A:, you cannot use extipl
installed on a floppy disk.
* Extipl changes the contents of MBR (the first sector of a hard
disk). Be careful, if you use an OS that uses MBR in its own way.
* Extipl cannot coexist with other programs that use MBR (the first
sector of a hard disk), for example other boot selectors.
* When you change the compilation flags in Makefile so that you can
save user defined names of OS, those names are saved the second
sector of EVERY hard disk. Make sure that those sectors are not used
by other programs.
1.3 Copyrights and Conditions for Distribution
(1) * This package is maintained by Takamiti KIMURA
<takamiti@tsden.org>.
* This English document is translated by Ryutaroh MATSUMOTO from
the Japanese document written by Takamiti KIMURA.
* The signer has the copyright of each signed source or document.
* This package can be used, modified, and distributed under the
GNU General Public License Version 2.
(2) Warranties
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY TAKAMITI KIMURA ``AS IS'' AND ANY
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL TAKAMITI KIMURA OR
ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED
OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
(3) Support
Enhancements and bug fixes of extipl will be distributed at
http://www.tsden.org/takamiti/extipl/. If you have comments, bug reports,
etc., feel free to email them to extipl@tsden.org. Although we do not make
any guarantees, we will make the best effort to respond to your report.
2. Usage
The program "extipl" contains the boot partition selectors, and
installs one of them at the first sectors of a hard disk. The general
syntax of the installer is
extipl command device-name [arg1, arg2, ...].
2.1 Commands of Extipl
The installer extipl accepts the following 7 commands. Optional
parameters are given after the device name.
2.1.1 save filename-of-HD file
Current content of MBR in HD is backed up in
"file."
Content of MBR can be restored by "extipl restore" described
below. If filename is omitted, default value "master.ipl" is
used. Backed up file is made read-only.
2.1.2 fdtest filename-of-FD [iplname]
Install the boot partition selector specified by "iplname" to
floppy disk "filename-of-FD." The default selector is
Gemini. See section 5 for what selectors are available. You
usually don't have to specify iplname.
Put "@" before iplname in order to specify a selector built
in the installer "extipl", for example "@gemini". If the first
character of "iplname" is not "@", the installer installs the
file specified by "iplname" to the floppy disk.
2.1.3 install install filename-of-HD [iplname]
Install the boot partition selector specified by "iplname" to
"filename-of-HD." The partition table is retained. Before
installation, you are forced to back up MBR to some file. You
are asked the filename as
Enter file name to save:
If you only hit the enter key, MBR is saved in
"fdiskipl.001". Backed up file is made read-only.
The default selector "Gemini" occupies the first 18 sectors
of a hard disk. Other selectors occupy the first sector only.
2.1.4 restore filename-of-HD file
MBR contains partition information and an OS loader. You are asked
as:
C)ode: restore ipl code only
T)able: restore partition table only
A)ll: restore ipl code and partition table
restore (c/t/a)?
Reply 'c', 't', or 'a'. It is not examined whether specified
file is valid copy of MBR. Filename cannot be omitted.
2.1.5 show device-name
Display the content of the partition tables in
"device-name". The content of an extended partition is also
displayed.
[Example]
# extipl show wd0
=========
Partition TABLE on "/dev/wd0"
=========
[1] 0B: FAT32 1866MB
[2] 06: FAT16(>32MB) 125MB
A[3] A5: FreeBSD 2596MB
[4] 05: Extended DOS --
( 1) 83: Linux native 256MB
( 2) 83: Linux native 1153MB
( 3) 83: Linux native 86MB
( 4) 82: Linux swap/Solaris x86 62MB
2.1.6 chgboot device-name
Change the bootable partition in the specified device interactively.
If you mark an extended partition bootable, you can also mark
a partition in the bootable extended partition bootable. The
following keys are understood:
number : mark the selected partition bootable.
w : write back the modified partition table to
the device.
q : quit without any modification to the device
c : clear the bootable mark.
b : back to the parent partition when you are
in an extended partition. If you are in
the top level partition, quit without any
modification.
# extipl chgboot wd0
=========
Partition TABLE on "/dev/wd0"
=========
[1] 0B: FAT32 1866MB
[2] 06: FAT16(>32MB) 125MB
A[3] A5: FreeBSD 2596MB
[4] 05: Extended DOS --
>>> Select partition to make bootable (? for help): 4
Partition #4(Extended DOS) specified,
Can you make bootable(y/n)? y
### Inside [4] Extended DOS
( 1) 83: Linux native 256MB
( 2) 83: Linux native 1153MB
( 3) 83: Linux native 86MB
( 4) 82: Linux swap/Solaris x86 62MB
>>> Select partition to make bootable (? for help): 1
### Inside [2] Extended DOS
*( 1) 83: Linux native 256MB
( 2) 83: Linux native 1153MB
( 3) 83: Linux native 86MB
( 4) 82: Linux swap/Solaris x86 62MB
>>> Select partition to make bootable (? for help): w
Ok.
In this example, we make the Linux native partition in the
extended partition bootable. First, we make the extended
partition in the top level partition bootable. Since the
specification does not allow us boot from an extended
partition, extipl asks user's confirmation. Then we set
the Linux partition bootable. Finally we write back the
modification to the device by `w' command. If you want to
verify your modification, use "extipl show device-name".
2.1.7 clrboot device-name
marks all partition in "filename-of-HD" not bootable. This
forces the boot partition selector to enter partition
selection even if shift key is not pressed down. Original
booter in MBR cannot boot OS if all partition is marked
non-bootable. You have to use a selector in extipl to boot
something. If BIOS loader of MBR checks the validity of MBR
strictly, it considers the MBR invalid and YOU BECOME UNABLE
TO BOOT ANY OS IN YOUR HARDDISK. BE CAREFUL.
2.2 On the Filenames of Hard Disks
In order to install extipl, you have to specify the filename of
the (first) hard disk (or the floppy disk). The common case is as
follows.
* FreeBSD : 2.2.x 3.x 4.x
IDE HDD #0 - wd0 wd0 ad0
SCSI HDD #0 - sd0 da0 da0
Floppy #0 - fd0 fd0 fd0
* Linux : 2.x.x
IDE HDD #0 - hda
SCSI HDD #0 - sda
Floppy #0 - fd0
3. Before Installation
We will explain the installation of the boot partition selector
(Gemini) using the program "extipl" (the installer) in Section
4. Before installation, please back up the content in the first
sectors of your hard disk that will be replaced by extipl. To back up
the first sectors with extipl, do "extipl save
filename-of-harddisk". Now the first 18 sectors are saved in
"./master.ipl". If you want to restore MBR to backed up one, do
"extipl restore filename-of-harddisk master.ipl".
4. Installation and Usage of Gemini
You might hesitate to rewrite the first sectors in HD. You can try
extipl without making any changes to your HD. The boot partition
selectors in extipl can be installed on a floppy disk. If you want to
install a selector to HD now, go to Section 4.2. Extipl version 5 has
4 selectors. We will explain the installation of "Gemini", the default
selector.
4.1 Using Gemini on a Floppy Disk
To install the selector "Gemini" on a floppy disk, insert a formatted
disk to A: and type
extipl fdtest filename-of-floppy-drive.
Then Gemini will be installed on the floppy disk.
Let's use the Gemini selector on floppy. Make sure that the floppy disk is tried
for booting before hard disks. Otherwise you cannot boot from the floppy
disk.
Insert the floppy disk and reboot your computer. After messages by
BIOS, "extipl ..." is displayed. The selector Gemini counts 15
seconds before loading an OS in the active partition. If you press the
space key, Gemini displays the menu for selecting OS. If you press
the enter key, it immediately loads an OS.
If you press the space key, you will see the following menu:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Drive: 1/2 mode:LBA |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | |
| 0B: FAT32 1866MB | Change target Drive |
| | |
| 06: FAT16(>32MB) 125MB | |
| | |
| *A5: FreeBSD 2596MB | Mark active and Boot |
| | |
| 05: Extended DOS -- | Boot |
| | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The upper row in the menu shows which disk is selected, and how Gemini
reads OS in disk. The lower left part of the menu shows the contents
of the partition table, and the lower right does available commands for
the Gemini selector. The cursor is placed at the active partition
initially. The active partition is also marked with asterisk (*). If
there is no active partition, the cursor is placed on the first
partition.
Operations should be visually self-explanatory. The easiest way to
select and boot an OS is as follows: Move the cursor to a partition by
Up and Down key. Move the cursor to the lower right part of the menu
by the Right (->) key, and move the cursor to "Boot". Then press the
enter key.
If the selected partition is an extended one, the Gemini selector boots
an OS in the active partition in the extended partition. If there is
no active partition in the selected extended partition, Gemini shows
the following display and asks the user for further selection.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Drive: 1/2 (Inside: #4 Extended DOS) mode:LBA |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | |
| [1] 83:Linux native 256MB | Change target Drive |
| [2] 83:Linux native 1153MB | |
| [3] 83:Linux native 86MB | Return to MBR |
| [4] 82:Linux swap/Solaris x86 62MB | |
| | Mark active and Boot |
| | |
| | Boot |
| | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
In the upper row, there is "(Inside: #4 Extended DOS)" indicating that
we are in the extended fourth partition in the master partition. An
additional command "Return to MBR" appears in the lower right part. It
is used for returning the master partition table. Operations are the
same as for the master partition table.
The Gemini selector can display at most 7 partitions in an extended
partition at once. If there are more than 7 partitions, it scrolls
the lower left part as the cursor moves. It reads at most 16
partitions in an extended partition. 17th and later partitions are
ignored.
The meaning of the upper row and the lower right part is as follows:
Drive: 1/2
| +--- the number of hard disks recognized by BIOS
+----- the selected hard disk
mode: LBA The hard disk is accessed in the LBA mode. If the BIOS
or the hard disk does not support the LBA mode, "CHS"
is displayed.
Change target Drive
is displayed only if there are more than 1 hard disks are
recognized by BIOS. Disks are changed cyclically.
Return to MBR
is displayed only if an extended partition is displayed in the
lower left part. It is used for returning to the master partition
table.
Mark active and Boot
marks the selected partition and boots it.
Boot
boots the selected partition.
If the cursor is in the lower left part, the following keys are
recognized. They can be used for making operations quicker.
<Enter>
Same as "Boot" in the lower right part.
<End>
Same as "Mark active and Boot" in the lower right part.
<Space>
is valid only if the cursor is on an extended
partition. Display the content of the selected extended
partition. No counterpart in the lower right part.
<Backspace>
Same as "Return to MBR".
"0"
Same as "Change target Drive".
Cursor moving keys of vi(1), "h, j, k, l", can be also used.
4.2 Installation of Gemini on a Hard Disk
Booting from floppy is inconvenient. You may want to install a boot
partition selector to HD once you convince that it is safe.
To install it to HD, type
extipl install filename-of-hard-disk
Then you are asked to what file MBR is backed up. After backing up, you asked
for final confirmation. Hitting `y' key allows extipl replace MBR
with the specified boot partition selector (usually Gemini).
You must log in as root to do the installation.
The usage is exactly the same as one installed on a floppy disk.
4.3 Additional Operations in Gemini
In this subsection we explain advanced functions in Gemini. They can
be used by typing the following keys.
<Alt> + t : changes the number of seconds counted before automatic
booting.
This operation is accepted only if the first hard disk is
selected. You can change waiting time from 0 to 999 seconds.
The initial value is 15. If these keys are pressed,
Time to pause before boot: 15 -> _
is displayed at the bottom of the screen. You can enter a
number. If you want to leave the waiting time unchanged, type
the escape key, or type immediately the enter key. The value
of 0 disables automatic booting and always asks the user which
OS is booted. The change is not automaically saved, and is
lost unless you save it by <Alt>+s described below.
<Alt> + n : sets the name of partition
This operation is accepted only if the cursor is in the lower
left part. You can change the name of partition. Move the
cursor to the partition that you want to rename, and type
<Alt>+n. Then
Enter Name (20 chars max):
is displayed at the bottom of the screen. If you press the
escape key, no change will be made. If you press the enter key
with no string, the default name will be displayed for the
selected partition. You can name at most 12 partitions.
Your change is lost unless you save it by <Alt>+s below.
CAUTION: Those names are saved in the second sector of a hard
disk. By default only names of partitions in the first hard
disk are saved. If you want to save names in other disks, you
can do so by changing Makefile, read Makefile for details.
In this case the second sector of every had disk is changed.
Make sure that the second sector is not used by other programs.
<Alt> + s : save changes
You can save changes by <Alt>+s.
***************************
*** Caution ***
***************************
The following limitations apply only to Gemini installed on a
floppy disk.
1. Changes are written to the floppy disk instead of the first
hard disk. In particular, Gemini writes the configuration on
the initial boot even if no changes are made.
If you eject the floppy disk and insert it again, you always
get the "media change" error. In this case you have to do
<Alt>+s twice. Otherwise changes are lost.
2. Only names for partitions in the first hard disk are saved.
4.4 Change of Disk Identifiers
The Gemini selector can change the BIOS identifier of the second (or
later) hard disk from 0x81 to 0x80 so that DOS or Windows can be
booted from the second or later hard disks. But this change of
identifier causes problems with UNIX. So the Gemini selector changes
the identifier of hard disks only if you select the following OS in
the second or later hard disks:
0x01 FAT12 0x04 FAT16(<=32MB)
0x06 FAT16(>32MB) 0x07 NTFS/HPFS
0x0B FAT32 0x0C FAT32(LBA)
0x0E FAT16(LBA) 0x11 Hidden FAT12
0x14 Hidden FAT16(<32MB) 0x16 Hidden FAT16(>=32MB)
0x17 Hidden HPFS 0x1B Hidden FAT32
0x1C Hidden FAT32(LBA) 0x24 NEC DOS 3.x
0x86 NTFS striped FAT 0x87 NTFS striped
0xCB secured FAT32 0xCC secured FAT32(LBA)
0xCE secured FAT16(LBA) 0xF2 DOS 3.3 2nd partition
If you want to change identifiers of disks with other OS, select it by
<right shift> + <Enter> key. If you don't want to change identifiers
with DOS or Windows, select it by <Ctrl> + <right shift> + <Enter>
key. This function is removed from the Gemini selector if "-dHOOKUP13"
compilation flag is removed from GEMINIFLAGS in src/Makefile
5. Boot Selectors in Extipl
Besides the selector "Gemini" explained in the previous section, the
installer "extipl" contains 3 other selectors that fit in the first 446
bytes of a hard disk. They can be specified as an optional argument in
fdtest/install (see 2.1.2 and 2.1.3). To specify these selectors, put @
before the name of a selector. For example,
# extipl install wd0 @taurus ; Taurus is specified.
# extipl install wd0 @gemini ; Gemini is specified.
The default selector is "gemini". If "@" is omitted, the argument is
treated as a filename.
5.1 Gemini
has the most visual user interface and the largest program
size (8 KB). It has the following features.
It consists of two parts. The first part is called pollux
that resides in the first sector. The second is called
castor. Pollux loads and executes castor. Castor does the most
job.
1) CHS/LBA is automatically detected.
2) It can boot an OS in any hard disk recognized by BIOS.
3) It can boot an OS in an extended partition, where active
partitions are recognized in a reasonable manner.
4) Change active partition before boot.
5) If castor (the second part) cannot be executed, an OS in
the active partition is booted.
5.2 Taurus
occupies only the first sector.
1) CHS/LBA is automatically detected.
2) It can boot an OS ONLY in the first hard disk.
3) It can boot an OS in an extended partition, where active
partitions are recognized in a reasonable manner.
4) It CANNOT select which OS is booted.
It is an extension of the ordinary MBR with LBA and boot
from an extended partition.
5.3 Aquila
occupies only the first sector.
1) CHS/LBA is automatically detected.
2) It can boot an OS ONLY in the first hard disk.
3) It can boot an OS in an extended partition, where active
partitions are recognized in a reasonable manner.
4) It CAN select which OS is booted.
5) It CANNOT change the active partition.
6) The OS selection menu is called by the Caps Lock key. If
you want to assign other key, modify the definition of
TRIGGER_BIT in the file altair.asm, and recompile it.
Usage:
1) If you want to boot an OS in the active partition, do
nothing. The OS is automatically booted.
2) If you want to boot an OS in a nonactive partition, press
the Caps Lock key and wait for the selection menu. The
initial selection menu shows pairs of partition number and
system ID in the master partition table in hexadecimal
format. The number after the prompt "Boot>" indicates which
partition is active.
------------
No Sys
1 0B
2 06
3 A5
4 05
Boot>3
------------
In this example you can boot OS in the partitions 1 to 3
by selecting its number and press the enter key. If you
select the fourth partition, it displays the content of the
extended partition and prompts further selection.
------------
No Sys
1 83
2 05
3
4
Boot>4.1,1
------------
More information is shown after "Boot>". The first number
indicates which extended partition in the master partition
table is selected. The second indicates the depth of the
selected partition table. If you select "2" here, you enter
the deeper extended partition.
*******************************
*** limitations of Aquila ***
*******************************
Due to the limitation on the program size (446 bytes), Aquila
has the following limitations:
a) You cannot return to the parent partition of an
extended partition. But you can return to the master
partition table by the Back Space key.
b) If you failed to select the correct logical
partition to boot up, then you can not go further
unless you return to the master partition table by the
Back Space key.
5.4 Scorpius
This is the selector in the extipl version 4.x. It occupies only
the first sector.
1) It accesses a hard disk only in CHS mode. Thus it
cannot boot an OS at the position of 8 GB or later.
2) It can boot an OS in any hard disk recognized by BIOS.
3) It can boot an OS in an extended partition, where active
partitions are recognized in a reasonable manner.
4) Change active partition in the FIRST hard disk before boot.
5) It CAN select which OS is booted.
Details of this selector are explained in scorpius.txt.
6. Treatment of Extended Partitions
By an extended partition we mean a partition with ID 0x05 or 0x85. The
specification by IBM says that an extended partition is not bootable,
and an extended partition should not be marked active.
However, all the selectors in extipl can automatically boot an OS in
a partition within an extended partition, if an extended partition is
marked active. We added this functionality because installers for
Linux can make a partition containing a kernel in an extended
partition. Currently we have verified that only Linux can be booted
from a partition in an extended partition. We guess that other OS
cannot be booted.
An extended partition consists of a partition and an optional extended
partition, which can also contain a partition and an optional extended
partition. This structure can be shown by "extipl -d show
device-name".
[4] 05: Extended DOS
( 1) 83: Linux native
( 1) 05: Extended DOS
( 2) 83: Linux native
( 2) 05: Extended DOS
( 3) 82: Linux swap/Solaris x86
In the example above, there are two extended partitions in an extended
partition.
Although all the selectors in extipl can boot an OS in an extended
partition, it cannot boot it if only the extended partition in the master
partition table (4th partition in the example above) is marked active.
The partition containing an OS and all its parent extended partitions
should also be marked active. In the example above, we have to mark
partitions as follows in order to the second Linux native partition.
*A[4] 05: Extended DOS
( 1) 83: Linux native
*( 1) 05: Extended DOS
*( 2) 83: Linux native
( 2) 05: Extended DOS
( 3) 82: Linux swap/Solaris x86
"extipl chgboot" and "Mark active and Boot" command in Gemini selector
mark partitions consistently as above.
7. Error Codes
Selectors other than Gemini stop and print the error in the hexadecimal
format if BIOS returns an error.
Gemini prints an error in the following format:
Disk BIOS Error, code=0x????
where 0x???? is the drive number * 256 + the error code, and tries to
continue the task. You should try to figure out the cause of the error
and remove it. The error codes by BIOS are defined as follows:
0x01 Bad command
0x02 Bad address mark detected
0x04 Record not found
0x05 Reset fail
0x07 Cannot drive initialize
0x09 DMA boundary error
0x0B Bad track flag detected
0x10 Uncorrectable ECC error
0x11 Correctable ECC error
0x20 Bad controller
0x40 Seek error
0x80 Time out
0xBB Undefined error
0xFF Sense operation fail
8. Appendix
8.1 Structures of Internal Selectors
If you have interest in the internal structure of selectors in extipl,
please refer to technical.txt. Although it focuses on the Scorpius
selector, many descriptions also apply to other selectors.
8.2 Options for Debugging Extipl
The program extipl accepts the following flags.
-d If this flag is specified, extipl writes a selector to the
file "./BootSec.???" instead of a hard disk or a floppy disk,
where ??? is a sequential number starting from 000. It is
mainly used for the debugging purpose.
-f This flag suppresses the query of the back up filename on the
installation of a selector. The first sectors are backed up to
"./fdiskIPL.???".
