Understand EasyBCD as an interface to existing Windows and Linux bootmanagers. Issues with NeoSmart ANG0-ANG6

iarsin · Jan 6, 2020

Hi,

I'm new to EasyBCD2.4 and I got issues to understand how it is working and therefore how to control the Bootprocess. I unfortunately got a rather complex layout of different drives with often many partitions, primary and extended with logical partitions. I want to consolidate them and turn some of the OSs into VHD and eventualy boot them as files with EasyBCD or use them in VirtualBox, to work at least only with one Linux and one Windows 10 and not with Windows10, Windows7, WindowsXP, WindowsXPx64, Ubuntu 18.04 and 19.10 and Openindiana ...

I'm currently chainloading EasyBCD2.4 by linux GRUB2, if I select Windows 10 in Grub, it will load the EasyBCD and it's Menue appears.

If I select Windows 10 or eather Windows 7 or Windows XP it tries to load those OSs, or in case of Windows XP the appropriate bcd configured by boot.ini.

But I got issues with all other stuff ANG0-ANG6 related. If I choose another option like booting an image (memtest86) from within EasyBCD menue or NeoSmartGrub I got error messages, ANG0 not found on all drives. Are those entries exlusively for usage with USB pendrives? Booting into ISO Images

Multibooters, Vista Dual and Multibooting - A Guide to the Multiboot Process

EasyBCD

Click to expand...

Little app that gives a graphical interface to the Microsoft tools for editing and configuring the built-in Windows bootmanager. Can add Linux, Mac OS X and BSD to the bootmenu. Designed to make it easier to alter the MS bootmanager, but can produce non-native configurations.

Multibooters, Vista Dual and Multibooting - Links Page

Multibooters, Vista Dual and Multibooting - Vista Tested Boot Managers

Code:

$ tree "I:\NST"
I:\NST
├── AutoNeoGrub0.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub1.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub2.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub3.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub4.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub5.mbr
├── AutoNeoGrub6.mbr
├── easyldr1
├── easyldr2
├── menu.lst
├── NeoGrub.mbr
└── plop.iso

0 directories, 12 files

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ tree "C:\NST"
C:\NST
└── AutoNeoGrub0.mbr

0 directories, 1 file

Details (listing directories and filtering with grep in order to show only the files [error opening dir])

Code:

$ tree -d "C:\Boot"/* | egrep -Ev '[a-z]{2}-[A-Z]{2}'
C:\Boot/BCD [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD.LOG [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD.LOG1 [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD.LOG2 [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{03e68929-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TM.blf [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{03e68929-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{03e68929-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TMContainer00000000000000000002.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TM.blf [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TMContainer00000000000000000002.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/BOOTSTAT.DAT [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/bootuwf.dll [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/bootvhd.dll [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/EASLINUX.DAT [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/Fonts
C:\Boot/memtest.exe [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/memtest86-usb.img [error opening dir]
C:\Boot/qps-ploc
C:\Boot/qps-plocm
C:\Boot/Resources

2 directories


$ tree -d "I:\Boot"/* | egrep -Ev '[a-z]{2}-[A-Z]{2}'
I:\Boot/BCD [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD.Backup.0001 [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD.Backup.0002 [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD.LOG [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD.LOG1 [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD.LOG2 [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{03e68a2a-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TM.blf [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{03e68a2a-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{03e68a2a-bbc2-11e9-bdf0-902b3451b4cf}.TMContainer00000000000000000002.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TM.blf [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BCD{41a27e6c-38b5-11df-acd8-005056c00008}.TMContainer00000000000000000002.regtrans-ms [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/BOOTSTAT.DAT [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/bootuwf.dll [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/bootvhd.dll [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/Fonts
I:\Boot/memtest.exe [error opening dir]
I:\Boot/qps-ploc
I:\Boot/qps-plocm
I:\Boot/Resources

1 directory

Snipped of the existing directories

Code:

├── Fonts
│   ├── chs_boot.ttf
│   ├── cht_boot.ttf
│   ├── jpn_boot.ttf
│   ├── kor_boot.ttf
│   ├── malgun_boot.ttf
│   ├── malgunn_boot.ttf
│   ├── meiryo_boot.ttf
│   ├── meiryon_boot.ttf
│   ├── msjh_boot.ttf
│   ├── msjhn_boot.ttf
│   ├── msyh_boot.ttf
│   ├── msyhn_boot.ttf
│   ├── segmono_boot.ttf
│   ├── segoe_slboot.ttf
│   ├── segoen_slboot.ttf
│   └── wgl4_boot.ttf
├── fr-CA
│   └── bootmgr.exe.mui
├── fr-FR
│   ├── bootmgr.exe.mui
│   └── memtest.exe.mui
[...]
├── qps-ploc
│   ├── bootmgr.exe.mui
│   └── memtest.exe.mui
├── qps-plocm
│   └── bootmgr.exe.mui
├── Resources
│   ├── bootres.dll
│   └── de-DE
│       └── bootres.dll.mui

If I start from C: (hd3,1) instead of EasyBCD on I:, I get this screen:

Code:

Eintrag #1
Name: Memtest86 8.3 USB ISO (UEFI)
BCD ID: {bb937bed-30b9-11ea-aabb-800800008488}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub1.mbr

iarsin · Jan 6, 2020

iarsin · Jan 6, 2020

Maybe the Issue happens due to the fact, that C: is on hd3? Also, on every start there is a difference in loading the configuration. I also don't understand that. If I load system BCD the Menue changes. But in no case, I can figure out how to overcome the ANG0-6 issue. In no cases EasyBCD finds the existing \NST\ ANG files. In C:\ (root) there is an ANG0 file with a different size. Is there a documentation, for what function the files are for?

Code:

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ file  "I:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr
I:\NST/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr: DOS/MBR boot sector

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ file  "C:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr
C:\NST/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr: DOS/MBR boot sector

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ tail -n15 "C:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr | strings
Press space bar
Press
to start GRUB, any other key to boot previous MBR ...
to boot previous MBR, any other key to start GRUB ...
Timeout:
Invalid previous MBR. Press any key to start GRUB ...
to hold the screen, any other key to boot previous MBR ...
Error while reading MBR of
in partition table of drive (hd0 )
Cannot find
in all drives. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.
Try (hd0,0 ) :
EXT2:
NTFS5:
EXFAT:
FAT32:
FAT16:
FAT12:
non-MS: skip
Extended:
invalid or null
No floppy
hot-key
?s"A
at9`
ari`
t\<%uP.
tR<d
fWf1
BIOS: Drive=0x%X, H=%d, S=%d
TUNE: Drive=0x%X, H=%d, S=%d

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ LANG=EN diff -s "C:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr   "C:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr
Files C:\NST/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr and C:\NST/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr are identical

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ file "C:\ANG0"
C:\ANG0: DOS executable (COM)

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ ls -l "C:\ANG0"
-rw-r--r-- 1 Gerhard None 316K 20. Nov 04:26 'C:\ANG0'

Iarsin@win10 ~
$ ls -l "C:\NST"/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr
-rw-r--r-- 1 Gerhard None 8,0K 20. Nov 04:26 'C:\NST/AutoNeoGrub0.mbr'

Current Settings after start-up easyBCD

Code:

Zur Zeit existieren insgesamt 10 Einträge im Bootloader.
Pfad: C:\Program Files (x86)\NeoSmart Technologies\EasyBCD\profiles\NeoSmart.bcd

Voreinstellung: Microsoft Windows XP Professionel x64 Edition
Wartezeit: 10 Sekunden
EasyBCD Start Gerät: C:\

Eintrag #1
Name: Microsoft Windows XP Professionel x64 Edition
BCD ID: {default}
Laufwerk: D:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\ntldr

Eintrag #2
Name: Microsoft Windows Win7 auf SSD 120
BCD ID: {3b3ef063-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Gerät: unknown
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #3
Name: Microsoft Windows Win7 auf 60GB HP HD400LS (400GB)
BCD ID: {6fce2557-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: I:\
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #4
Name: Microsoft Windows XP
BCD ID: {781fa1b5-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: G:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\ntldr

Eintrag #5
Name: Microsoft Windows XP 32 G
BCD ID: {eee67de0-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: D:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\easyldr2

Eintrag #6
Name: Microsoft Windows 10
BCD ID: {187e60e9-04c4-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #7
Name: NeoGrub Bootloader
BCD ID: {b93055d0-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Gerät: boot
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\NeoGrub.mbr

Eintrag #8
Name: NeoSmart Linux
BCD ID: {cc591881-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: I:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub3.mbr

Eintrag #9
Name: Linux (Grub 2)
BCD ID: {d78c62dd-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: I:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub4.mbr

Eintrag #10
Name: EasyBCD BIOS Erweiterung
BCD ID: {eb3701a5-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Gerät: boot
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub5.mbr

System-BCD (after Load System-BCD)

Code:

Zur Zeit existieren insgesamt 11 Einträge im Bootloader.

Voreinstellung: Microsoft Windows XP Professionel x64 Edition
Wartezeit: 10 Sekunden
EasyBCD Start Gerät: C:\

Eintrag #1
Name: Memtest86 8.3 USB ISO (UEFI)
BCD ID: {bb937bed-30b9-11ea-aabb-800800008488}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub1.mbr

Eintrag #2
Name: Microsoft Windows XP Professionel x64 Edition
BCD ID: {default}
Laufwerk: D:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\ntldr

Eintrag #3
Name: Microsoft Windows Win7 auf SSD 120
BCD ID: {3b3ef063-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Gerät: unknown
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #4
Name: Microsoft Windows Win7 auf 60GB SanDisk 240 (240GB)
BCD ID: {6fce2557-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: I:\
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #5
Name: Microsoft Windows XP
BCD ID: {781fa1b5-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: G:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\ntldr

Eintrag #6
Name: Microsoft Windows XP 32 G
BCD ID: {eee67de0-04c3-11ea-ab23-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: G:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\easyldr2

Eintrag #7
Name: Microsoft Windows 10
BCD ID: {current}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Eintrag #8
Name: NeoGrub Bootloader
BCD ID: {b93055d0-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\NeoGrub.mbr

Eintrag #9
Name: NeoSmart Linux
BCD ID: {cc591881-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub3.mbr

Eintrag #10
Name: Linux (Grub 2)
BCD ID: {d78c62dd-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub4.mbr

Eintrag #11
Name: EasyBCD BIOS Erweiterung
BCD ID: {eb3701a5-0b33-11ea-867e-902b3451b4cf}
Laufwerk: C:\
Bootloader Pfad: \NST\AutoNeoGrub5.mbr

I also deleted all entries and tried to recreate them, without success.

EasyBCD is counter intuitive and confusing. It doesn't gives the control I need.

Understand EasyBCD as an interface to existing Windows and Linux bootmanagers. Issues with NeoSmart ANG0-ANG6

iarsin

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iarsin

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iarsin

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