port-macppc/43982: Kernel switches display to 40 column mode. Sysinst cannot run.

[peter%syllopsium.com@localhost]

>Number:         43982
>Category:       port-macppc
>Synopsis:       Kernel switches display to 40 column mode. Sysinst cannot run.
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       serious
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    port-macppc-maintainer
>State:          open
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Mon Oct 18 11:15:00 +0000 2010
>Originator:     Peter Kay
>Release:        5.1 RC4
>Organization:
>Environment:
macppc
>Description:
On a PowerMac Digital Audio 733 using either a Geforce 2MX or a Geforce Ti4600 
connected to a CRT monitor (an IBM C220p) either via HD15 or by a DVI to HD15 
converter, when the kernel is booted via ofwboot.xcf it switches the display 
into a 40 column mode.

This is insufficiently wide to run sysinst, so a menu driven installation is 
not possible.

The default width/height reported for the Geforce2 MX in Open Firmware 
properties is 640x480. I do not know if this can be fixed as my attempts to 
modify it via nvram/nvedit have so far failed.

Latest firmware is in use.
>How-To-Repeat:
Run install on an Open Firmware 3 system. Possibly limited to only Geforce 
cards on a Digital Audio.
>Fix:
Connect the DVI output of Geforce Ti4600 to a TFT monitor. The screen still 
changes resolution from the bootup resolution to a much lower one, but the 
width is sufficient to use sysinst.