diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso.1 b/xorriso/xorriso.1
index 7958e34c..90532097 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso.1
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso.1
@@ -951,6 +951,26 @@ xorriso adds the traditional 300k of padding by default to all images.
 .br
 For images which will never get to a CD it is safe to use -padding 0 .
 .TP
+\fB\-boot_image\fR "any"|"isolinux" "discard"|"keep"|"patch"
+Defines the handling of an eventual boot image (El-Torito) which has been read
+from an existing ISO image. All types ("any") can be discarded or kept
+unaltered. The latter makes only sense if the format of the boot image is
+relocatable without content changes.
+.br
+The boot image type "isolinux" can be kept unaltered (not advisable), or
+discarded, or it can be patched to match its relocation. In the latter case
+the resulting ISO image is bootable if the boot image was really complying
+to the isolinux standard.
+.br
+Creation of new boot images is not yet possible.
+.br
+CAUTION:
+This is an expert option. xorriso is not an expert yet.
+It cannot recognize the inner form of boot images.
+So the user has already to know about the particular needs of the
+bootimage which is present on the input media.
+Most safe is the default: "any" "discard".
+.TP
 .B Exception processing:
 .TP
 \fB\-abort_on\fR severity
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso.c b/xorriso/xorriso.c
index 04c4aa1c..22f42422 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso.c
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso.c
@@ -2707,6 +2707,8 @@ int Xorriso_new(struct XorrisO ** xorriso,char *progname, int flag)
  m->speed= 0;
  m->fs= 4*512; /* 4 MiB */
  m->padding= 300*1024;
+ m->keep_boot_image= 0;
+ m->patch_isolinux_image= 0;
  m->allow_graft_points= 0;
  m->dialog= 0;
  m->search_mode= 0;
@@ -3756,7 +3758,7 @@ int Xorriso_status(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *filter, FILE *fp, int flag)
 */
 {
  int is_default,no_defaults,i;
- char *line, sfe[5*SfileadrL], mode[80];
+ char *line, sfe[5*SfileadrL], mode[80], *form, *treatment;
  static char channel_prefixes[4][4]= {".","R","I","M"};
 
  no_defaults= flag&1;
@@ -3824,6 +3826,19 @@ int Xorriso_status(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *filter, FILE *fp, int flag)
    Xorriso_status_result(xorriso,filter,fp,flag&2);
  }
 
+ is_default= (xorriso->keep_boot_image==0 && xorriso->patch_isolinux_image==0);
+ form= "any";
+ treatment= "discard";
+ if(xorriso->patch_isolinux_image) {
+   form= "isolinux";
+   treatment= "patch";
+ } else if(xorriso->keep_boot_image) {
+   treatment= "keep";
+ }
+ sprintf(line,"-boot_image %s %s\n", form, treatment);
+ if(!(is_default && no_defaults))
+   Xorriso_status_result(xorriso,filter,fp,flag&2);
+
  sprintf(line,"-cd %s\n",
          (xorriso->wdi[0] ? Text_shellsafe(xorriso->wdi,sfe,0) : "'/'"));
  Xorriso_status_result(xorriso,filter,fp,flag&2);
@@ -6101,6 +6116,52 @@ int Xorriso_option_blank(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *mode, int flag)
 }
 
 
+/* Option -boot_image */
+int Xorriso_option_boot_image(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *form,
+                              char *treatment, int flag)
+{
+ int was_ok= 1;
+ char *formpt, *treatpt;
+
+ formpt= form;
+ if(formpt[0]=='-')
+   formpt++;
+ treatpt= treatment;
+ if(treatpt[0]=='-')
+   treatpt++;
+ if(strcmp(formpt, "any")==0) {
+   if(strcmp(treatpt, "keep")==0) {
+     xorriso->keep_boot_image= 1;
+     xorriso->patch_isolinux_image= 0;
+   } else if(strcmp(treatpt, "discard")==0) {
+     xorriso->keep_boot_image= 0;
+     xorriso->patch_isolinux_image= 0;
+   } else
+     was_ok= 0;
+ } else if(strcmp(formpt, "isolinux")==0) {
+   if(strcmp(treatpt, "patch")==0) {
+     xorriso->keep_boot_image= 1;
+     xorriso->patch_isolinux_image= 1;
+   } else if(strcmp(treatpt, "keep")==0) {
+     xorriso->keep_boot_image= 1;
+     xorriso->patch_isolinux_image= 0;
+   } else if(strcmp(treatpt, "discard")==0) {
+     xorriso->keep_boot_image= 0;
+     xorriso->patch_isolinux_image= 0;
+   } else
+     was_ok= 0;
+ } else
+   was_ok= 0;
+ if(!was_ok) {
+   sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "Unrecognized options with -boot_image: %s %s",
+           form, treatment);
+   Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "FAILURE", 0);
+   return(0);
+ }
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
 /* Option -cd alias -cdi */
 int Xorriso_option_cdi(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *iso_rr_path, int flag)
 {
@@ -8408,6 +8469,10 @@ next_command:;
    (*idx)++;
    ret= Xorriso_option_blank(xorriso, arg1, 0);
 
+ } else if(strcmp(cmd,"boot_image")==0) {
+   (*idx)+= 2;
+   ret= Xorriso_option_boot_image(xorriso, arg1, arg2, 0);
+
  } else if(strcmp(cmd,"cd")==0 || strcmp(cmd,"cdi")==0) {
    (*idx)++;
    ret= Xorriso_option_cdi(xorriso, arg1, 0);
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso.h b/xorriso/xorriso.h
index 1b599867..8561b41e 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso.h
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ int Xorriso_option_ban_stdio_write(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag);
 */
 int Xorriso_option_blank(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *mode, int flag);
 
+/* Option -boot_image */
+int Xorriso_option_boot_image(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *form,
+                              char *treatment, int flag);
+
 /* Option -cd alias -cdi */
 int Xorriso_option_cdi(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *iso_rr_path, int flag);
 
@@ -220,9 +224,11 @@ int Xorriso_option_commit_eject(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *which, int flag);
 int Xorriso_option_cpri( struct XorrisO *xorriso, int argc, char **argv,
                          int *idx, int flag);
 
-/* Option -cut_out */
-int Xorriso_option_cut_out(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *disk_path,
-               off_t startbyte, off_t bytecount, char *iso_rr_path, int flag);
+/* >>> not yet implemented
+ / * Option -cut_out * /
+ int Xorriso_option_cut_out(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *disk_path,
+                off_t startbyte, off_t bytecount, char *iso_rr_path, int flag);
+*/
 
 /* Options -dev , -indev, -outdev */
 /* @param flag bit0=use as indev , bit1= use as outdev
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso_private.h b/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
index 64532376..32eca57b 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
@@ -109,6 +109,9 @@ struct XorrisO { /* the global context of xorriso */
  int fs;        /* fifo size in 2048 byte chunks : at most 1 GB */
  int padding;   /* number of bytes to add after ISO 9660 image */
 
+ int keep_boot_image;
+ int patch_isolinux_image;
+
 
  /* XORRISO options */
  int allow_graft_points;
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
index 861255f7..4a5d0905 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#define Xorriso_timestamP "2008.02.10.135822"
+#define Xorriso_timestamP "2008.02.11.094742"
diff --git a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
index 6114055c..cc4798cf 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
+++ b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
@@ -407,13 +407,14 @@ int Xorriso_create_empty_iso(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
 */
 int Xorriso_aquire_drive(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *adr, int flag)
 {
- int ret, hret, not_writeable= 0;
+ int ret, hret, not_writeable= 0, has_what;
+ uint32_t size;
  struct burn_drive_info *dinfo= NULL, *out_dinfo, *in_dinfo;
  struct burn_drive *drive, *out_drive, *in_drive;
  enum burn_disc_status state;
  IsoImage *volset = NULL;
  struct isoburn_read_opts *ropts= NULL;
- char adr_data[SfileadrL], *libburn_adr;
+ char adr_data[SfileadrL], *libburn_adr, *boot_fate;
 
  if((flag&3)==0) { 
    sprintf(xorriso->info_text, 
@@ -568,6 +569,20 @@ int Xorriso_aquire_drive(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *adr, int flag)
    isoburn_attach_image(out_drive, xorriso->in_volset_handle);
  }
  Xorriso_process_msg_queues(xorriso,0);
+ isoburn_ropt_get_size_what(ropts, &size, &has_what);
+ if(has_what & isoburn_ropt_has_el_torito) {
+   if(xorriso->patch_isolinux_image)
+     boot_fate= "patched as isolinux image";
+   else if(xorriso->keep_boot_image)
+     boot_fate= "kept unchanged";
+   else
+     boot_fate= "discarded";
+   sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
+         "Detected El-Torito boot information which currently is set to be %s",
+         boot_fate);
+   Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "NOTE", 0); 
+ }
+
  Xorriso_toc(xorriso, 1);
  if(xorriso->loaded_volid[0]!=0) {
    sprintf(xorriso->result_line,"Volume id    : '%s'\n",xorriso->loaded_volid);
@@ -688,7 +703,7 @@ int Xorriso_make_write_options(
 */
 int Xorriso_write_session(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
 {
- int ret, media_space, img_sectors, padding= 0, profile= 0;
+ int ret, media_space, img_sectors, padding= 0, profile= 0, relax= 0;
  char profile_name[80];
  struct isoburn_imgen_opts *sopts= NULL;
  struct burn_drive_info *dinfo, *source_dinfo;
@@ -700,15 +715,67 @@ int Xorriso_write_session(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
  struct burn_session **sessions;
  struct burn_track **tracks;
  enum burn_disc_status s;
+ IsoImage *image = NULL;
+ ElToritoBootImage *bootimg;
 
  ret= Xorriso_get_drive_handles(xorriso, &dinfo, &drive,
                                 "on attempt to write", 2);
  if(ret<=0)
    return(0);
 
+ if(xorriso->out_drive_handle == xorriso->in_drive_handle ||
+    xorriso->in_drive_handle == NULL) {
+   source_drive= drive;
+ } else {
+   ret= Xorriso_get_drive_handles(xorriso, &source_dinfo, &source_drive,
+                                  "on attempt to get source for write", 0);
+   if(ret<=0)
+     goto ex;
+   s= isoburn_disc_get_status(drive);
+   if(s!=BURN_DISC_BLANK) {
+     s= burn_disc_get_status(drive);
+     if(s!=BURN_DISC_BLANK)
+       sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
+               "-indev differs from -outdev and -outdev media is not blank");
+     else
+       sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
+        "-indev differs from -outdev and -outdev media holds valid ISO image");
+     Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "FAILURE", 0);
+     {ret= 0; goto ex;}
+   }
+ }
+
  ret= isoburn_igopt_new(&sopts, 0);
  if(ret<=0)
    return(ret);
+ relax= isoburn_igopt_allow_deep_paths;
+
+ /* Adjust or discard boot image */
+ image= isoburn_get_attached_image(source_drive);
+ /* >>> ??? move down to libisoburn ? */
+ if(image!=NULL && !(flag&1)) {
+   ret= iso_image_get_boot_image(image, &bootimg, NULL, NULL);
+   if(xorriso->patch_isolinux_image) {
+     if(ret==1) {
+       relax|= isoburn_igopt_allow_full_ascii;
+       el_torito_patch_isolinux_image(bootimg);
+       sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "Patched alleged isolinux boot image");
+       Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "NOTE", 0);
+     } else {
+       sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
+               "Could not find any boot image for -patch_isolinux_image");
+       Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "WARNING", 0);
+     }
+   } else if(xorriso->keep_boot_image) {
+     sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "Keeping boot image unchanged");
+     Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "NOTE", 0);
+   } else if(ret==1) {
+     iso_image_remove_boot_image(image);
+     sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "Discarded boot image from old session");
+     Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "NOTE", 0);
+   }
+ }
+
  isoburn_igopt_set_level(sopts, 2);
  isoburn_igopt_set_extensions(sopts, 1|((!!xorriso->do_joliet)<<1));
  isoburn_igopt_set_relaxed(sopts, isoburn_igopt_allow_deep_paths);
@@ -747,25 +814,8 @@ int Xorriso_write_session(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
 
  if(xorriso->out_drive_handle == xorriso->in_drive_handle ||
     xorriso->in_drive_handle == NULL) {
-   source_drive= drive;
    ret= isoburn_prepare_disc(source_drive, &disc, sopts);
  } else {
-   s= isoburn_disc_get_status(drive);
-   if(s!=BURN_DISC_BLANK) {
-     s= burn_disc_get_status(drive);
-     if(s!=BURN_DISC_BLANK)
-       sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
-               "-indev differs from -outdev and -outdev media is not blank");
-     else
-       sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
-        "-indev differs from -outdev and -outdev media holds valid ISO image");
-     Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "FAILURE", 0);
-     {ret= 0; goto ex;}
-   }
-   ret= Xorriso_get_drive_handles(xorriso, &source_dinfo, &source_drive,
-                                  "on attempt to get source for write", 0);
-   if(ret<=0)
-     goto ex;
    ret= isoburn_prepare_new_image(source_drive, &disc, sopts, drive);
  }
  if (ret <= 0) {
@@ -870,6 +920,11 @@ no_track:;
  Xorriso_info(xorriso, 0);
  ret= 1;
 ex:;
+
+ if(ret<=0) {
+   /* >>> ??? revive discarded boot image */;
+ }
+
  if(disc!=NULL)
    burn_disc_free(disc);
  isoburn_igopt_destroy(&sopts, 0);