Question

I am trying to develop OS, and think I have something that somewhat works. However, when I assemble it into an .iso file like this:

nasm -f bin -o kernel.bin kernel.asm
nasm -f bin -o boot.bin boot.asm
dd if=boot.bin of=os.iso bs=512 count=1
dd if=kernel.bin of=os.iso bs=512 count=1

and try to run it as an in Virtual Box, I get the following error message:

Failed to open the CD/DVD image /home/logan/Desktop/OS/test.iso.
The medium '/home/logan/Desktop/OS/test.iso' can't be used as the requested device type.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out what's going on, and if it has anything to do with the code, or if it's a format error, and how I could fix it.

These are the two files I used:

kernel.bin:

   mov ax, 0x07C0  ; set up segments
   mov ds, ax
   mov es, ax

   mov si, welcome
   call print_string

 mainloop:
   mov si, prompt
   call print_string

   mov di, buffer
   call get_string

   mov si, buffer
   cmp byte [si], 0  ; blank line?
   je mainloop       ; yes, ignore it

   mov si, buffer
   mov di, cmd_hi  ; "hi" command
   call strcmp
   jc .helloworld

   mov si, buffer
   mov di, cmd_help  ; "help" command
   call strcmp
   jc .help

   mov si,badcommand
   call print_string 
   jmp mainloop  

 .helloworld:
   mov si, msg_helloworld
   call print_string

   jmp mainloop

 .help:
   mov si, msg_help
   call print_string

   jmp mainloop

 welcome db 'Welcome to My OS!', 0x0D, 0x0A, 0
 msg_helloworld db 'Hello OSDev World!', 0x0D, 0x0A, 0
 badcommand db 'Bad command entered.', 0x0D, 0x0A, 0
 prompt db '>', 0
 cmd_hi db 'hi', 0
 cmd_help db 'help', 0
 msg_help db 'My OS: Commands: hi, help', 0x0D, 0x0A, 0
 buffer times 64 db 0

 ; ================
 ; calls start here
 ; ================

 print_string:
   lodsb        ; grab a byte from SI

   or al, al  ; logical or AL by itself
   jz .done   ; if the result is zero, get out

   mov ah, 0x0E
   int 0x10      ; otherwise, print out the character!

   jmp print_string

 .done:
   ret

 get_string:
   xor cl, cl

 .loop:
   mov ah, 0
   int 0x16   ; wait for keypress

   cmp al, 0x08    ; backspace pressed?
   je .backspace   ; yes, handle it

   cmp al, 0x0D  ; enter pressed?
   je .done      ; yes, we're done

   cmp cl, 0x3F  ; 63 chars inputted?
   je .loop      ; yes, only let in backspace and enter

   mov ah, 0x0E
   int 0x10      ; print out character

   stosb  ; put character in buffer
   inc cl
   jmp .loop

 .backspace:
   cmp cl, 0    ; beginning of string?
   je .loop ; yes, ignore the key

   dec di
   mov byte [di], 0 ; delete character
   dec cl       ; decrement counter as well

   mov ah, 0x0E
   mov al, 0x08
   int 10h      ; backspace on the screen

   mov al, ' '
   int 10h      ; blank character out

   mov al, 0x08
   int 10h      ; backspace again

   jmp .loop    ; go to the main loop

 .done:
   mov al, 0    ; null terminator
   stosb

   mov ah, 0x0E
   mov al, 0x0D
   int 0x10
   mov al, 0x0A
   int 0x10     ; newline

   ret

 strcmp:
 .loop:
   mov al, [si]   ; grab a byte from SI
   mov bl, [di]   ; grab a byte from DI
   cmp al, bl     ; are they equal?
   jne .notequal  ; nope, we're done.

   cmp al, 0  ; are both bytes (they were equal before) null?
   je .done   ; yes, we're done.

   inc di     ; increment DI
   inc si     ; increment SI
   jmp .loop  ; loop!

 .notequal:
   clc  ; not equal, clear the carry flag
   ret

 .done:     
   stc  ; equal, set the carry flag
   ret

;   times 510-($-$$) db 0
   dw 0AA55h ; some BIOSes require this signature

boot.bin:

; ==================================================================
; The DIOS Boot-Loader
; Copyright (C) 2013 ELEMENTAL Developers -- see doc/LICENSE.TXT
;
; Based on a free boot loader by MikeOS Developers. It scans the FAT12
; floppy for KERNEL.BIN (the ELEMENTAL kernel), loads it and executes it.
; This must grow no larger than 512 bytes (one sector), with the final
; two bytes being the boot signature (AA55h). Note that in FAT12,
; a cluster is the same as a sector: 512 bytes.
; ==================================================================


    BITS 16

    jmp short bootloader_start  ; Jump past disk description section
    nop             ; Pad out before disk description


; ------------------------------------------------------------------
; Disk description table, to make it a valid floppy
; Note: some of these values are hard-coded in the source!
; Values are those used by IBM for 1.44 MB, 3.5" diskette

OEMLabel        db "ELEMENTAL"  ; Disk label
BytesPerSector      dw 512      ; Bytes per sector
SectorsPerCluster   db 1        ; Sectors per cluster
ReservedForBoot     dw 1        ; Reserved sectors for boot record
NumberOfFats        db 2        ; Number of copies of the FAT
RootDirEntries      dw 224      ; Number of entries in root dir
                    ; (224 * 32 = 7168 = 14 sectors to read)
LogicalSectors      dw 2880     ; Number of logical sectors
MediumByte      db 0F0h     ; Medium descriptor byte
SectorsPerFat       dw 9        ; Sectors per FAT
SectorsPerTrack     dw 18       ; Sectors per track (36/cylinder)
Sides           dw 2        ; Number of sides/heads
HiddenSectors       dd 0        ; Number of hidden sectors
LargeSectors        dd 0        ; Number of LBA sectors
DriveNo         dw 0        ; Drive No: 0
Signature       db 41       ; Drive signature: 41 for floppy
VolumeID        dd 00000000h    ; Volume ID: any number
VolumeLabel     db "HELIOS     "; Volume Label: any 11 chars
FileSystem      db "FAT12   "   ; File system type: don't change!


; ------------------------------------------------------------------
; Main bootloader code


bootloader_start:
    mov ax, 07C0h           ; Set up 4K of stack space above buffer
    add ax, 544         ; 8k buffer = 512 paragraphs + 32 paragraphs (loader)
    cli             ; Disable interrupts while changing stack
    mov ss, ax
    mov sp, 4096
    sti             ; Restore interrupts

    mov ax, 07C0h           ; Set data segment to where we're loaded
    mov ds, ax

    ; NOTE: A few early BIOSes are reported to improperly set DL

    cmp dl, 0
    je no_change
    mov [bootdev], dl       ; Save boot device number
    mov ah, 8           ; Get drive parameters
    int 13h
    jc fatal_disk_error
    and cx, 3Fh         ; Maximum sector number
    mov [SectorsPerTrack], cx   ; Sector numbers start at 1
    movzx dx, dh            ; Maximum head number
    add dx, 1           ; Head numbers start at 0 - add 1 for total
    mov [Sides], dx

no_change:
    mov eax, 0          ; Needed for some older BIOSes

; Start of root = ReservedForBoot + NumberOfFats * SectorsPerFat = logical 19
; Number of root = RootDirEntries * 32 bytes/entry / 512 bytes/sector = 14
; Start of user data = (start of root) + (number of root) = logical 33

floppy_ok:              ; Ready to read first block of data
    mov ax, 19          ; Root dir starts at logical sector 19
    call l2hts

    mov si, buffer          ; Set ES:BX to point to our buffer (see end of code)
    mov bx, ds
    mov es, bx
    mov bx, si

    mov ah, 2           ; Params for int 13h: read floppy sectors
    mov al, 14          ; And read 14 of them

    pusha               ; Prepare to enter loop


read_root_dir:
    popa                ; In case registers are altered by int 13h
    pusha

    stc             ; A few BIOSes do not set properly on error
    int 13h             ; Read sectors using BIOS

    jnc search_dir          ; If read went OK, skip ahead
    call reset_floppy       ; Otherwise, reset floppy controller and try again
    jnc read_root_dir       ; Floppy reset OK?

    jmp reboot          ; If not, fatal double error


search_dir:
    popa

    mov ax, ds          ; Root dir is now in [buffer]
    mov es, ax          ; Set DI to this info
    mov di, buffer

    mov cx, word [RootDirEntries]   ; Search all (224) entries
    mov ax, 0           ; Searching at offset 0


next_root_entry:
    xchg cx, dx         ; We use CX in the inner loop...

    mov si, kern_filename       ; Start searching for kernel filename
    mov cx, 11
    rep cmpsb
    je found_file_to_load       ; Pointer DI will be at offset 11

    add ax, 32          ; Bump searched entries by 1 (32 bytes per entry)

    mov di, buffer          ; Point to next entry
    add di, ax

    xchg dx, cx         ; Get the original CX back
    loop next_root_entry

    mov si, file_not_found      ; If kernel is not found, bail out
    call print_string
    jmp reboot


found_file_to_load:         ; Fetch cluster and load FAT into RAM
    mov ax, word [es:di+0Fh]    ; Offset 11 + 15 = 26, contains 1st cluster
    mov word [cluster], ax

    mov ax, 1           ; Sector 1 = first sector of first FAT
    call l2hts

    mov di, buffer          ; ES:BX points to our buffer
    mov bx, di

    mov ah, 2           ; int 13h params: read (FAT) sectors
    mov al, 9           ; All 9 sectors of 1st FAT

    pusha               ; Prepare to enter loop


read_fat:
    popa                ; In case registers are altered by int 13h
    pusha

    stc
    int 13h             ; Read sectors using the BIOS

    jnc read_fat_ok         ; If read went OK, skip ahead
    call reset_floppy       ; Otherwise, reset floppy controller and try again
    jnc read_fat            ; Floppy reset OK?


; ******************************************************************
fatal_disk_error:
; ******************************************************************
    mov si, disk_error      ; If not, print error message and reboot
    call print_string
    jmp reboot          ; Fatal double error


read_fat_ok:
    popa

    mov ax, 2000h           ; Segment where we'll load the kernel
    mov es, ax
    mov bx, 0

    mov ah, 2           ; int 13h floppy read params
    mov al, 1

    push ax             ; Save in case we (or int calls) lose it


; Now we must load the FAT from the disk. Here's how we find out where it starts:
; FAT cluster 0 = media descriptor = 0F0h
; FAT cluster 1 = filler cluster = 0FFh
; Cluster start = ((cluster number) - 2) * SectorsPerCluster + (start of user)
;               = (cluster number) + 31


load_file_sector:
    mov ax, word [cluster]      ; Convert sector to logical
    add ax, 31

    call l2hts          ; Make appropriate params for int 13h

    mov ax, 2000h           ; Set buffer past what we've already read
    mov es, ax
    mov bx, word [pointer]

    pop ax              ; Save in case we (or int calls) lose it
    push ax

    stc
    int 13h

    jnc calculate_next_cluster  ; If there's no error...

    call reset_floppy       ; Otherwise, reset floppy and retry
    jmp load_file_sector


    ; In the FAT, cluster values are stored in 12 bits, so we have to
    ; do a bit of maths to work out whether we're dealing with a byte
    ; and 4 bits of the next byte -- or the last 4 bits of one byte
    ; and then the subsequent byte!

calculate_next_cluster:
    mov ax, [cluster]
    mov dx, 0
    mov bx, 3
    mul bx
    mov bx, 2
    div bx              ; DX = [cluster] mod 2
    mov si, buffer
    add si, ax          ; AX = word in FAT for the 12 bit entry
    mov ax, word [ds:si]

    or dx, dx           ; If DX = 0 [cluster] is even; if DX = 1 then it's odd

    jz even             ; If [cluster] is even, drop last 4 bits of word
                    ; with next cluster; if odd, drop first 4 bits

odd:
    shr ax, 4           ; Shift out first 4 bits (they belong to another entry)
    jmp short next_cluster_cont


even:
    and ax, 0FFFh           ; Mask out final 4 bits


next_cluster_cont:
    mov word [cluster], ax      ; Store cluster

    cmp ax, 0FF8h           ; FF8h = end of file marker in FAT12
    jae end

    add word [pointer], 512     ; Increase buffer pointer 1 sector length
    jmp load_file_sector


end:                    ; We've got the file to load!
    pop ax              ; Clean up the stack (AX was pushed earlier)
    mov dl, byte [bootdev]      ; Provide kernel with boot device info

    jmp 2000h:0000h         ; Jump to entry point of loaded kernel!

; ------------------------------------------------------------------
; BOOTLOADER SUBROUTINES

reboot:
    mov ax, 0
    int 16h             ; Wait for keystroke
    mov ax, 0
    int 19h             ; Reboot the system


print_string:               ; Output string in SI to screen
    pusha

    mov ah, 0Eh         ; int 10h teletype function

.repeat:
    lodsb               ; Get char from string
    cmp al, 0
    je .done            ; If char is zero, end of string
    int 10h             ; Otherwise, print it
    jmp short .repeat

.done:
    popa
    ret


reset_floppy:       ; IN: [bootdev] = boot device; OUT: carry set on error
    push ax
    push dx
    mov ax, 0
    mov dl, byte [bootdev]
    stc
    int 13h
    pop dx
    pop ax
    ret


l2hts:          ; Calculate head, track and sector settings for int 13h
            ; IN: logical sector in AX, OUT: correct registers for int 13h
    push bx
    push ax

    mov bx, ax          ; Save logical sector

    mov dx, 0           ; First the sector
    div word [SectorsPerTrack]
    add dl, 01h         ; Physical sectors start at 1
    mov cl, dl          ; Sectors belong in CL for int 13h
    mov ax, bx

    mov dx, 0           ; Now calculate the head
    div word [SectorsPerTrack]
    mov dx, 0
    div word [Sides]
    mov dh, dl          ; Head/side
    mov ch, al          ; Track

    pop ax
    pop bx

    mov dl, byte [bootdev]      ; Set correct device

    ret


; ------------------------------------------------------------------
; STRINGS AND VARIABLES

    kern_filename   db "KERNEL  BIN"    ; MikeOS kernel filename

    disk_error  db "Floppy error! Press any key...", 0
    file_not_found  db "KERNEL.BIN not found!", 0

    bootdev     db 0    ; Boot device number
    cluster     dw 0    ; Cluster of the file we want to load
    pointer     dw 0    ; Pointer into Buffer, for loading kernel


; ------------------------------------------------------------------
; END OF BOOT SECTOR AND BUFFER START

    times 510-($-$$) db 0   ; Pad remainder of boot sector with zeros
    dw 0AA55h       ; Boot signature (DO NOT CHANGE!)


buffer:             ; Disk buffer begins (8k after this, stack starts)


; ==================================================================

If it matters I am on Ubuntu, using NASM, and Virtual Box Any help is greatly appreciated.

Was it helpful?

Solution

You didn't create a valid iso image, presumably that's why virtualbox is refusing to load it. You can use what you have created as floppy or hard disk image, or create a proper bootable iso using some tool such as mkisofs.

From a quick glance, the boot loader expects a FAT file system that you don't create either. You'll either have to change it so it simply loads the second sector, or create a proper FAT file system.

Also note that the second invocation of dd will overwrite the output of the first (you can easily see that by checking the size of the file).

Licensed under: CC-BY-SA with attribution
Not affiliated with StackOverflow
scroll top