(Answer) (Category) Linux on PowerPC FAQ-O-Matic : (Category) Booting Trouble :
Unable to boot using BootX
I just recently finished installing LinuxPPC on my Power Mac G3 B&W.
After doing so, I set the proper arguments under BootX (partition, etc.), then clicked 'linux' to boot.
It basically reads that it cannot find the partition that I have linux on. Erk. Did I possibly mess up in the installation procedure? Or is the version of BootX that came with LinuxPPC 2000 (BootX 1.2b3) not very friendly w/my computer?
Finally, is there a way to use yaboot and be able to get into the Mac OS from it?
Thanks!
Pat K pat_trick @ hotmail.com
pat_trick@hotmail.com
Well, I pretty much figured out my own problem.
I needed to use yaBoot to boot linux on my comp. That's pretty much all there was to it.
But now I need a text editor that can open up the yaboot.conf (in Mac OS) so that I can modify some of the arguments. Is there somewhere that I can pick something like this up? Help!
-Pat
pat_trick@hotmail.com
It just seems that I keep on answering my own questions. Guess writing things down helps.
Okay, I found a text editor to fix up the yaboot.conf file. But now I still can't seem to boot into Linux. After reading some other FAQ's, and trying the most recent version of BootX, I think that the problem might be that I am running Mac OS 9.0.4.
Can anyone offer some help to finding a version of BootX that will work under OS 9.0.4?
-Pat
pat_trick@hotmail.com
Heh. Okay.
I needed to use a new Kernel for the B&W G3, not the one included on the LinuxPPC 2000 CD. Boy, I wish that they had included that info in their readme.
-Pat
pat_trick@hotmail.com
I just installed ppclinux on my ibook from the 2000 cd. BootX starts out okay, then crashes whenever the kernel gets down to initializing the IDE devices. I suspect I need some magic special boot arguments to make it work, but I cant dig up any reference to my type of problem on the cd. I *know* it can work because the live filesystem boots up without a hitch. Can anybody steer me to the light?
wyehkah@yahoo.com
I believe that it's the kernel that they include in LinuxPPC 2000. You need to look around on the net, and see if there is a special Kernel for the iBook, which I believe that there is. Unfortunately, I don't know what Kernel needs to be used.
According to the info on LinuxPPC.org (http://www.linuxppc.org/hardware/), yaboot is the best choice for booting into Linux. However, if you use this, you can't get back to Mac OS w/out booting from the Mac OS CD that came w/your iBook. But if you get the correct kernel, then BootX should work just fine.
pat_trick@hotmail.com
*The* source for linux kernels on PowerPC is: http://www.linuxcare.com.au/paulus/kernels.html
Benjamin Herrenschmidt has done a lot of work to get linux work on an iBook, his page is: http://linuxppc.apple.com/~benh/, there is a precompiled kernel that works on an iBook there, at the moment, but all his patches are merged in the official pmac-stable kernel, which you'll find on (the above mentioned) Paulus' Linux kernel page.
helena@mget.nl
There's some more info about getting a G3 B&W to boot up Linux. Supposedly, the G3 B&W is a 'new world' machine, and as such, will only boot using yaboot. There is now a wonderful faq and how-to available at http://linuxppc.org/blueg3/. It will help you with getting the correct kernel, as well as getting you setup to use yaboot, even if you already have your HD partitioned to use BootX.
pat_trick@hotmail.com
For some reason, Ben H's web page doesn't load. Is there a mirror?
jesboat@yahoo.com
OK, the yaboot instructions are great, but there's a problem:
BootX does not work in OS 9.0.4 or later.
IN THE INSTRUCTIONS, it says "now boot into Linux using your BootX." Basically, from what I can find, there is no way to dual-boot a B&W G3 without resorting to cumbersome kludges like booting from CD-ROM to the MacOS or some other such horror. ???? Any ideas?
zak@sheergenius.com
Wow, been a while since I looked at this topic...
Basically, you're right about there being no easy way to set up a Dual Boot for LinuxPPC. Unfortunately, I have found this to be especially true for LinuxPPC. But here are some ideas:
If you can, install LinuxPPC on a second hard drive. This will make life a lot easier for the install process.
You NEED to use yaboot. Period. BootX is pretty much useless for anything past a B&W G3 computer. Unfortunately, the documentation included with LinuxPPC assumes that you are using BootX...
And in my search for documentation on LinuxPPC, it appears that the website and what not have gone defunct. Which means that it's time to invest in another distro.
But that doesn't help you with your problem. You should be able to find some how-to's as to setting up yaboot around the net. Dig around, and hopefully an answer will appear.
pat_trick@hotmail.com
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