okay, I understand now; although, there is a slight problem with doing that, I have no other linux machines handy with disk drives. Is there a way of doing that from the mac terminal?
On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 3:43 PM, Rick Thomas <rbtho...@pobox.com> wrote: > > On Aug 15, 2012, at 8:25 AM, Michael Aldridge wrote: > > On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 2:06 AM, Rick Thomas <rbtho...@pobox.com> wrote: >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> 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? >> > > I need to know *exactly* which iso you downloaded and burned. Please > follow the instructions in part (1) of my reply. With the data from the > .../.disk/info file on the CD I can download the exact same iso and test it > on one of my G4 tower machines. That will let us know if it's specific to > your laptop, or a generic problem with that particular iso. > > Rick >
