where can I get the Boot Variables program? how can I run it?
any links? do I need to install it?
how can I change the nvram settings?
if I get to the OF how can I change it without the Boot Variables program?
thanks in advance.
seems like I'm a real pain in the ass.. but sorry. this is my first Mac.
(hope not the last one)

Regards,

Igor N. Green

On Thu, 28 Oct 1999, Aaron Jackson wrote:

-->>I tried this `ata/ata-disk@0:0' and `ata/ata-disk@0:bsd'
-->>I always get the same result: I see a picture of a floppy on my screen and
-->>an 'x' inside.
-->>I suspect that the problem is that  the MBR is not changed..
-->>and it still contains something to boot MacOS which I don't have anymore.
-->>I need either to install the bootloader (if any) or clear the MBR (if
-->>any)..
-->>damned Mac, why should it be that difficult while everything is very
-->>simple in PC (BIOS, CMOS) without shortcuts and stuff like that.
-->
-->First, there is NOTHING easy about working with a pc.  Second, if you
-->see the disk with an x, then you have already started booting macos, and
-->the system can not find a valid system folder. The computer doesn't know
-->what to do at that point.  There is no "MBR", since it boots from rom. If
-->you want to run NetBSD or ANY other OS, you need to tell the mac BEFORE
-->it starts to load macos.  You have to change the nvram so it doesn't
-->automaticly boot to macos.  Use the Boot Variables program to do this,
-->or go into open firmware. If you don't catch your computer in
-->open firmware BEFORE it boots into macos you will always have this
-->problem.  You should thank your lucky stars that you don't have BIOS or
-->CMOS or some other archaic backwards comapable "features" to deal with.
-->
-->Aaron Jackson
-->