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#1 2010-08-08 20:31:57

immolo
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 7

ArchPPC and Oldworld

I'm having issues trying to get the Arch install CD to work on my old Wallstreet Powerbook.

Basically I have copied the kernel and the initrd to the places for bootx to find them and added the kernel argument "root=/dev/ram0" which boots me into the installer up until the point it tries to find the cdrom drive to continue booting but instead fails to find it and then reboots.

So am I missing something or has support for my cdrom drive not been added?

Please help.

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#2 2010-08-16 17:08:43

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

Hello Immolo,

I have a good bit of experience installing Ubuntu on an Old World Mac, specifically a PowerBook 3400c. I've been trying to get started with Arch Linux PPC.

Perhaps we can help each other out? May I ask - which installer did you use, and where did you download it from?

Where did you see the "initrd" file? I found a PPC iso image, but it is very sparse. I downloaded it from here: http://www.archlinuxppc.org/download/

Any details on what you're doing would be appreciated.

Last edited by 3400c_guy (2010-08-16 17:09:06)

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#3 2010-08-16 17:52:36

immolo
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

The initrd is under Boot/archlive.img

And sure I would be happy to help to work with you.

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#4 2010-08-16 18:17:32

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

immolo wrote:

The initrd is under Boot/archlive.img

I can't open the archlive.img file. I've tried on OS X 10.6, 10.4, and on OS 9.1. Are you using the same .iso file as I linked above? If so, how do you open the archlive.img file? It seems like it wants to mount, but OS X says "unrecognized format," and OS 9 fusses that the disk image needs to be initialized (formatted).

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#5 2010-08-16 18:34:15

immolo
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

I'm using the initrd in bootx rather then opening it a different way.

Did you use bootx on ubuntu?

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#6 2010-08-16 18:51:24

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

I've got OS 9.1 installed, and BootX v1.2.2.

I copied the /boot/vmlinux kernel from the CD to my System Folder/Linux Kernels folder. BootX is configured to read from the /System Folder/Linux Kernels/vmlinux kernel.

Then, in BootX, I clicked Options, and here I can check "Use specified RAM Disk." I click Choose, and I'm presented with a Pain-Jane OS 9 file browser. I can navigate to and select archlive.img, but can't navigate any further into it to see its contents.

Setting archlive.img as the ramdisk does nothing to boot the installer, nor does renaming the file, or placing it in other locations.

In regards to my errors opening the archlive.img file, I saw that I needed Disk Copy to mount it, but I get "The Mount Image operation did not complete. (-58) The disk "archlive.img" cannot be read on this Mac OS computer."

Last edited by 3400c_guy (2010-08-16 18:51:55)

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#7 2010-08-16 20:14:36

immolo
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

I do the same as you but also with the downloaded iso on a cd and in the drive and add the following to the append line "ram=/dev/ram0" then click the 'Linux' button and it moves over to Linux for me.

From there on my problems start.

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#8 2010-08-16 20:39:48

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

Hey, you're getting further than me. When I click "Linux" all I see is a black screen with "Welcome to Linux, kernel 2.6.32-ARCH"

Nothing else happens.

I've seen this issue with totally horked kernels that just don't work with my hardware, so I may not be able to pursue this much further... You think I'm doing something wrong? I wanna help you out, but my machine isn't cooperating either sad

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#9 2010-08-17 01:13:51

my0pic
Member
From: Melbourne, Australia
Registered: 2008-05-23
Posts: 206

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

Hi guys. My old PB3400c no longer works and my memory is a bit rusty but have you specified a ram size in the bootx dialog. I had to put "ram=8192" before I could boot into anything.
@3400c_guy, you have Ubuntu already installed. if you have the disk space, why not try
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ins … ting_Linux

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#10 2010-08-17 01:42:46

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

8192 kb was ram disk size by default, with no success. I tried increasing to 12750, no change.

Sorry to "hijack" this thread. I know that this thread was originally on a cd-rom recognition issue on a wall street.

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#11 2010-08-18 12:11:39

immolo
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

Well I have solved my problem by using an older iso of Arch from ftp://ftp.archlinuxppc.org/iso/2010.02. … pc-ftp.iso and now the installer works.

3400c_guy - If you can write down each setting you are using from bootx maybe I can help you get a little further.

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#12 2010-08-18 18:39:11

3400c_guy
Member
Registered: 2010-08-16
Posts: 7

Re: ArchPPC and Oldworld

Thanks.

vmlinux kernel was copied from CDROM/Boot/vmlinux to /System Folder/Linux Kernels, and that is specified in BootX.

kernel arguments says ram=/dev/ram0

click "Options" and nothing is checked at all.

When I click Linux, just the single "welcome to Linux...." line shows and no activity progresses. Is this the same configuration you're using. Do I have to copy the ramdisk from the CD Rom at all? If so how/where/what the crap?

Thanks!

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