The iso was downloaded from the debian.org mirror (as near as I can tell at least), and it is the small cd image available by clicking on the power-pc link below the heading of small cds. The iso was obtained and burned yesterday.
I tried the key combinations you suggested, but none worked. I also tried with an external keyboard, but that seemed as though it did not register keypresses. any other ideas? On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 2:06 AM, Rick Thomas <rbtho...@pobox.com> wrote: > > > Begin forwarded message: > > *Resent-From: *debian-user@lists.debian.org > *From: *Michael Aldridge <aldridge....@gmail.com> > *Date: *August 14, 2012 6:05:29 PM PDT > *To: *debian-user@lists.debian.org > *Subject: **PowerPC install stuck at dmesg* > > After deciding that the official OS was becoming too slow for this aging > hardware, and Apple PowerBook G4 FW800 (not sure about the FW800, it could > be the one immediately following that model), I decided to install debian > and then a WM such as LXDE, to better use the hardware. I downloaded, > burned, and verified the ppc netinst disk, and it does boot to a yaboot > prompt. I then type 'install' and a white screen briefly flashes onto the > screen. Then I see the output of dmesg as the machine partially boots, it > makes it up to locating/defining the vmalloc and ioremap memory addresses, > but then it appears to halt. > > I do not recieve any messages such as kernel panics, clock to NO Hz mode, > or similar; if I leave the computer, it will remain in that state until I > reboot it. My assumption is that this is not a console, just a dmesg > readout, but I cannot figure out what the keybinding is on the mac to get > to any other consoles. I should point out that the disk drive remains spun > up, then spins down a few minutes later. I know how to use the text > installer, if only I could get to it. > > What I have tried so far: > reset the SMU > reset the nvram > reset the entire non-volatile memory > use the video flag offered in yaboot > connect an external monitor --> yields a grey screen with what looks like > an open firmware readout, defining memory ranges > > > Any help is greatly appreciated, it was suggested that I ask this issue on > one of the IRC channels, but having never used those before, I figured I'd > stick with the mailing list I knew. > > > Hi Michael, > > First: try sending this to the "debian-powerpc" list. You may get more > answers there... > > Second: I have a couple of G4 tower machines that work just fine, but > unfortunately I don't have any powerbooks to try, so I can't be of direct > help to you. However, the answers to a few questions may make it easier to > diagnose your problem. > > 1) What netinst image did you download? Can you supply the URL and > time/date of the .iso? One way to get this: Mount the CD (on /mnt, for > example) and look in the file /mnt/.disk/info. It will give your enough to > uniquely identify the version, time and date of creation of the .iso . > > 2) I doubt what you're seeing is just dmesg output. Certainly, on my > tower machines, it's the real console output -- at least up to the stage > you are talking about as it hangs. > > 3) To switch virtual consoles, try various combinations of <fn> <alt> and > the F# keys for #=[1..4] . If that doesn't work, add the <ctl>, <shift> > and <cmd/apple> keys into the mix in that order. > > 4) Try an external USB keyboard. > > Hope this helps! > > Rick > >
