Bug#252426: ppc cd images missing oldworld mac boot floppies
On Thu, 2004-06-03 at 05:57, Peter Lieverdink wrote:
> Package: debian-installer
> Severity: important
>
> The beta4 and tc1 ppc iso images don't have a bootable floppy image for
> oldworld PPC macs that cannot boot off the CD.
>
> Additionally, the installer is unable to actually make these Macs
> bootable from HD. I've had no luck with manually configuring 'QUIK'
> sofar and partman doesn't seem to create a yaboot bootstrap partition.
>
> -- System Information:
> Debian Release: testing/unstable
> APT prefers unstable
> APT policy: (500, 'unstable'), (1, 'experimental')
> Architecture: powerpc
> Kernel: Linux 2.4.25-powerpc
> Locale: LANG=en_AU.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_AU.UTF-8
>
That's because quik and miboot are deemed by the Debains to be
politically incorrect.
These two packages contain (among other things) a small block of binary
code that is taken directly from the copyrighted Apple boot floppies,
and is therefor "not free". This first-level bootloader code (or an
equivalent substitute) is necessary to get the oldworld bootstrap
process off the ground.
I understand that a clean-room re-implementation is underway, but my
guess (I'm not involved in any way with the effort, so this is just my
personal guess) is that it probably won't make it in time for the sarge
debian-installer release.
One workaround is to download BootX (use google) and boot that way.
There are other ways, but that's the simplest (IMHO).
I've done it. It works a treat. Email me if you need help.
Enjoy!
Rick
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