> Finally, do you have the capability of attaching a serial console to the
> system?  (Ie, do you have a vt100-like dumb terminal, or another computer
> that can act like one?)  If so, you can boot with serial console on, and
> all of the startup messages will go there instead of the Mac video device.

Another alternative is to use serial echo to a printer. The latest
serial driver will set the baud rate before using serial echo. So if you
have a DeskWriter, which usually seems to work at 57600, you are set.
Just make the default printer baud rate 57600 in the booter, and turn on 
serial echo.

You can test it by using a MacOS terminal program and sending
characters to the printer. If they print right, you've got the
baud rate right.

Take care,

Bill