Well, it's sort of trivial - "use the right BIOS interrupts to load the kernel off the boot drive in the proper way".

BIOS interrupts would usually be int 13h but there are extensions.
I can't remember where the boot drive is stored, look for osdev articles.
The proper way depends on how your disk is prepared - most people will start with a raw disk or fat12/fat16.


man dd
Or, alternatively, you could copy bootsector+kernel to one file, and dd that.

http://www.nondot.org/sabre/os/articles
http://my.execpc.com/~geezer/osd/index.htm

Hello f0dder.

I am currently using dd ti copy my bootsector to the first sector of the floppy disk, and then having it copy my kernel to the second sector (of course, it is not limited to only one sector. )

I am still playing around with reading floppy sectors; I have gotten a few methods that reproduce some results, and some that produce no results at all, but not yet have I found the desired result. I know I will get there; I always do after I piddle around for a bit.

-Jeff

http://www.osdever.net/
and http://mega-tokyo.com/osfaq2/
has much nice info for the beginner.

On osdever, check out gregor brunmar's and the first xosdev tutorials (http://www.osdever.net/tutorials.php?cat=4&sort=1).

The xosdev tutorial contains info on how to load a couple of sectors of the floppy right after the bootsector (no filesystem). It can be a good way to practice.

/ Christoffer

Those tutorials are quite helpful - thanks a lot. I have quite a bit of reading to do.

-Jeff