diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index a61a62ff..15c398d6 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -881,9 +881,15 @@ class QubesVm(object):
 
         return args
 
+    @property
+    def uses_custom_config(self):
+        return self.conf_file != self.absolute_path(self.name + ".conf", None)
+
     def create_config_file(self, file_path = None, source_template = None, prepare_dvm = False):
         if file_path is None:
             file_path = self.conf_file
+            if self.uses_custom_config:
+                return
         if source_template is None:
             source_template = self.template
 
@@ -1622,19 +1628,6 @@ class QubesTemplateVm(QubesVm):
 
         return True
 
-    def start(self, debug_console = False, verbose = False, preparing_dvm=False):
-        if dry_run:
-            return
-
-        self.reset_volatile_storage(verbose=verbose)
-
-        if not self.updateable:
-            raise QubesException ("Cannot start Template VM that is marked \"nonupdatable\"")
-
-        # TODO?: check if none of running appvms are outdated
-
-        return super(QubesTemplateVm, self).start(debug_console=debug_console, verbose=verbose)
-
     def reset_volatile_storage(self, verbose = False):
         assert not self.is_running(), "Attempt to clean volatile image of running Template VM!"
 
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
index 322f3ae8..4089b35f 100644
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
@@ -119,16 +119,23 @@ def block_name_to_majorminor(name):
 
     major = 0
     minor = 0
+    dXpY_style = False
 
     name_match = re.match(r"([a-z]+)([a-z])([0-9]*)", name)
     if not name_match:
-        raise QubesException("Invalid device name: %s" % name)
+        name_match = re.match(r"([a-z]+)([0-9]*)(?:p([0-9]+)?", name)
+        if not name_match:
+            raise QubesException("Invalid device name: %s" % name)
+        else:
+            dXpY_style = True
 
     disk = True
     if name_match.group(1) == "xvd":
         major = 202
     elif name_match.group(1) == "sd":
         major = 8
+    elif name_match.group(1) == "mmcblk":
+        major = 179
     elif name.startswith("scd"):
         disk = False
         major = 11
@@ -143,7 +150,10 @@ def block_name_to_majorminor(name):
         return (0, 0)
 
     if disk:
-        minor = (ord(name_match.group(2))-ord('a')) * 16
+        if dXpY_style:
+            minor = int(name_match.group(2))*8
+        else:
+            minor = (ord(name_match.group(2))-ord('a')) * 16
     else:
         minor = 0
     if name_match.group(3):
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
index 5ec3c1c5..9b4f5995 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ def main():
                       help="Temporarily attach specified drive as CD/DVD")
     parser.add_option ("--dvm", action="store_true", dest="preparing_dvm", default=False,
                       help="Do actions necessary when preparing DVM image")
+    parser.add_option ("--custom-config", action="store", dest="custom_config", default=None,
+                      help="Use custom Xen config instead of Qubes-generated one")
 
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args ()
     if (len (args) != 1):
@@ -64,6 +66,9 @@ def main():
             print >> sys.stderr, "This VM does not support attaching drives"
             exit (1)
 
+    if options.custom_config:
+        vm.conf_file = options.custom_config
+
     try:
         vm.verify_files()
         xid = vm.start(debug_console=options.debug_console, verbose=options.verbose, preparing_dvm=options.preparing_dvm)