yaboot error - load size is too small

[Steve Richter <StephenRichter@gmail.com>]

I am following the instructions for "hard disk installer booting for
NewWorld Macs"  to install debian linux for powerpc on an iMac G3.

The 4 files ( yaboot, yaboot.conf, root.bin, linux.bin ) have been
copied to the root level of the hard drive.

boot the iMac to the open firmware prompt

run the command:
  boot  hd:0,yaboot

and I get an error:  not supported load size = 0 ....  load size is too small

any ideas?

I dont have pdisk so I am not sure what partitions are on this system.
 When I try to boot from a different partition number the error says
partition not found.  Would that mean I only have a partition 0?

ran "printenv".  it displayed something about "partition : common"

I also have not created a separate partition for debian on this iMac. 
I would like to replace the MAC OS with Debian.

thanks,

-Steve