PowerMac G5 can't start graphics -- was Re: Updated Debian Ports installation images 2025-08-21
Also, see this apparently very similar recent issue from last week:
https://lists.debian.org/debian-powerpc/2025/08/msg00018.html
> On Aug 21, 2025, at 6:35 AM, Jeroen Diederen <jjhdiederen@zonnet.nl> wrote:
>
> You might need to do the following. Boot the machine in recovery mode. You then do:
>
> mv /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so.bak
>
> Ctrl-d or exit to resume booting.
>
> Michael Campbell schreef op 2025-08-21 20:18:
>> Hi, thanks for this. I am new to this list; this is my first "post".
>> I am attempting to install Debian 12 PPC64 on my Power Mac G5 Quad.
>> The installer runs to completion more or less successfully, although
>> it did complain about b43 firmware, presumably related to the Apple
>> WiFi/Bluetooth card I have installed. The result boots to GRUB, and
>> when I select any non-recovery mode selection from the GRUB menu, it
>> takes off nicely. Screens worth of startup messages go by, then the
>> screen clears. I BRIEFLY see a text mode login prompt and then the
>> screen clears again. That is it. Nothing further happens. I let it sit
>> that way for ten minutes, but nothing further happens.
>> I am TOTALLY new to Debian, although I have a fair deal of experience
>> configuring and installing Arch Linux and the old openSuSE.
>> Does what I described above suggest anything to any reader?
>> My system details: my G5 Quad has 16 GB of RAM, a Quadro FX 4500
>> graphics card, two internal SATA HDDs, one actually an SSD and the
>> other a 2 TB spinner. It is the spinner that I trying to install
>> Debian onto. I select Guided, and Whole Disk during install. The Quad
>> also has a PCIe eSATA card and a FireWire 800 port expansion card. It
>> is also unique in that I have converted it from liquid cooling to air
>> cooling, although all the stock Apple fans remain in place and
>> operative. I have an Apple FW400 iSight camera and a USB microphone
>> also attached.
>> I normally run 10.5.9 Sorbet Leopard on it.
>> Any thoughts on why the existing new install doesn't seem to come up
>> to a point where it is usable would be most appreciated.
>> Meantime, I will try it this new installer and see if that changes
>> things.
>> Thanks,
>> Michael
>> On August 20, 2025 6:31:21 PM EDT, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
>> <glaubitz@physik.fu-berlin.de> wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> I just created updated Debian Ports installation images based on
>>> kernel 6.12.38. These are using the debian-installer from Trixie.
>>> They can be downloaded from here:
>>> https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2025-08-21/
>>> Please test and report back.
>>> Known issues are kernel instabilities on sun4u (sparc64) machines
>>> which are currently being investigated. I will write a separate
>>> mail on the issue.
>>> Adrian
>>> --
>>> .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
>>> : :' : Debian Developer
>>> `. `' Physicist
>>> `- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
>
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