> I've tried A7INST kernel from
> 
> ftp://sunsite.org.uk/packages/netbsd/NetBSD-1.3/arm32/binary/kernel/
> 
> with the bootloader from
> 
> ftp://sunsite.org.uk/packages/netbsd/NetBSD-1.3/arm32/installation/
> 
> These are from January 1998.
> 
> However, I just get the first five lines at the top of the screen, then

Are these the colored bars, or lines of text?  ISTR that coloured bars
implies trying a different kernel, or checking that you've got the right
amount of Video DRAM configured.  (I haven't got my machine in front of me
so I can't check this :-(

If it's text, could you send *exactly* what it says? 

> the machine hangs. I presume that I'm supposed to set the root device
> to wd0a for the internal IDE drive...

Root device for the install stage ought to be the memory disk, md0a.

Have fun,
David.