How to UEFI64-boot to the AntiVirusLiveCD ISO

The AntiVirusLiveCD ISO only supports 64-bit CPUs and Legacy\MBR booting. MBR-booting on a system with a 32-bit CPU causes a ‘not 64-bit CPU’ error message to be displayed. 

When I downloaded the AntivirusLiveCD-36.0-0.103.0.iso file, I found by using 7Zip, that it did not contain a \EFI folder or any boot image which contained any .efi boot files. So the ISO does not support UEFI-booting. 

Even though the ISO does not contain UEFI64 boot files, it is possible to first UEFI64-boot to grub2 and then load the linux kernel and initrd ramdrive files under grub2. As long as the kernel does not rely on any Legacy BIOS calls, it should still boot OK.

I examined the AntivirusLiveCD-36.0-0.103.0.iso’s \boot\isolinux\isolinux.cfg file:


isolinux.cfg

default menu.c32
 prompt 0
 menu title AntivirusLiveCD 36.0-0.103.0
 timeout 100

 label Console
 menu label AntivirusLiveCD 36.0-0.103.0 with Default Display
 say Booting AntivirusLiveCD:
 kernel /boot/bzImage
 append initrd=/boot/initrd.gz rw root=/dev/ram0 vga=normal

 label Framebuffer
 menu label AntivirusLiveCD 36.0-0.103.0 with VESA Framebuffer
 say Booting AntivirusLiveCD:
 kernel /boot/bzImage
 append initrd=/boot/initrd.gz rw root=/dev/ram0 vga=ask

and then constructed a new .cfg file suitable for agFM:

/_ISO/ANTIVIRUS/AntivirusLiveCD.cfg

# AntiVirusLiveCD  (AntivirusLiveCD-36.0-0.103.0.iso) 

set grubfm_file=($bootdev,msdos1)
/_ISO/ANTIVIRUS/AntivirusLiveCD-36.0-0.103.0.iso
source ${prefix}/func.sh

# check file is contiguous
set x=0
stat -c -q -s x "${grubfm_file}"
if [ ! "${x}" = "1" ] ; then 
 echo ERROR: ${grubfm_file} is not contiguous or does not exist!
 sleep 3
 grubfm "${grubfm_current_path}"
fi
unset x

if [ "${CPU}" == "32" ]; then 
 echo ERROR: 32-bit CPUs are not supported!
 sleep 3
 grubfm "${grubfm_current_path}"
fi

menuentry "AntiVirusLiveCD (default display)" --unrestricted --class gnu-linux {
 #only update partition table if already empty
 if ! test -d (${bootdev},4) ; then partnew --type=0x00 --file="${grubfm_file}" (${grubfm_disk}) 4 ; fi
 map -n "${grubfm_file}"
 map -u
 loopback loop "${grubfm_file}"
 set root=loop
 # Check the /grub/isolinux folder for correct parameters to use
 linux /boot/bzImage rw root=/dev/ram0 vga=normal
 initrd /boot/initrd.gz 
 boot
 }

menuentry "AntiVirusLiveCD (with VESA Framebuffer)" --unrestricted --class gnu-linux {
 #only update partition table if already empty
 if ! test -d (${bootdev},4) ; then partnew --type=0x00 --file="${grubfm_file}" (${grubfm_disk}) 4 ; fi
 map -n "${grubfm_file}"
 map -u
 loopback loop "${grubfm_file}"
 set root=loop
 linux /boot/bzImage w root=/dev/ram0 vga=ask
 initrd /boot/initrd.gz 
 boot
 }

menuentry "Back" --class go-previous {
# return back to 'open' menu
grubfm "${grubfm_current_path}"
}

As the kernel did not seem to support 32-bit CPUs, I added some code to abort if a 32-bit CPU is detected.
Depending on which ISO you are using, you may need to check that the kernel parameters used on the line that begins with ‘linux’ are correct by looking inside the ISO at the original isolinux.cfg file, because the parameters used can sometimes change from version to version.
The agFM code uses the partnew command to create a new Partition 4 on the USB drive, therefore the ISO file must be made contiguous first. Although the partnew command requires a writeable drive and a contiguous ISO file, it can be used to boot 99% of all Linux-based ISOs in a generic fashion (unlike other solutions such as YUMI or Ventoy which often have to have patches for loads of different versions of different distros). 

The ,cfg file will be listed in the agFM menu.
You can add [64-bit Legacy+UEFI] to the file name if you wish.

Instead of a .cfg file, you can make a .grubfm file. See here or eBook #4 for more details.
The .cfg file is in agFM v1.71 in the \e2bSample agFM Menu files\LINUX folder.

Leave a Comment

New! Ventoy for Easy2Boot v1.0.97 now released!

 

eBooks available (in PDF format)

Easy-to-read eBooks are available in PDF format (each eBook is over 100 pages) – rated 4.5/5 stars.
Learn the secrets of Legacy and UEFI USB booting and then make your perfect multiboot USB drive.
E2B eBook #1 includes instructions on how to remove the E2B 5-second start-up delay blue screen.

E2B is unique in that it uses partition images which allows you to directly boot from Secure Boot images (no need to disable Secure Boot or run MOK manager or modify your UEFI BIOS).

Most eBooks are over 100 pages long, contain original content and step-by-step exercises which are suitable for both the beginner or the more experienced user.
Customer reviews are located at bottom of each eBook product page and multi-buy discounts are available when you buy more than one eBook. Please also visit RMPrepUSB.com and the E2B Forum.
Subscribe to my blog for the latest news, tips, USB boot articles and free eBook updates.