On Sat, 7 Sep 2002 19:36:13 -0700
Adam Kranzel <adam@blacktabby.org> wrote:

> On Sun, 8 Sep 2002 03:22:32 +0200 (MET DST)
> Ian Piumarta <ian.piumarta@inria.fr> wrote:
> 
> > On Sat, 7 Sep 2002, Adam Kranzel wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all...
> > >
> > > however, it doesn't have MacOS installed.  This system defaults to
> > > ttya as the serial console port, however this is taken by the
> > > internal modem.
> >
> > I had similar problems installing LinuxPPC on a 6400.  In the end I
> > removed the back plate, unplugged the modem (it's sitting in a
> > dedicated slot just below the PCI slots [1]) and then connected the
> > serial line to another machine (in my case a Sparc IPX) and talked to
> > OF via kermit. After figuring out my "personal magic numbers" for
> > load-base et al, and installing and then setting up the 6400's OF vars
> > to autoboot the kernel image directly off the hard disk, I unplugged
> > the serial console and have not had to plug it back in once since then
> > (4 years ago -- and this machine is _still_ doing sterling service as
> > my home NAT and firewall :).
> >
> > Ian
> >
> > [1] it's a horrible modem anyway: I left it unplugged and was far
> > better
> >     off afterwards with a USR Courrier connected to the printer port.
> >
> 
> Removing the modem is a reasonable option (I'm on a broadband
> connection, I don't need it), except I have no idea how to take the case
> off :P
> Any guide to how to remove it, or clues from someone who knows how?
> 
>  -Adam
> 

Thanks for the previous help, I was able to remove the modem, and use
another machine as a serial console, but now I need help with the next
step.
I can get to the OpenFirmware prompt, set load-base and real-base as the
install documents reccomend, but I can't actually boot from the floppy.
I type in "boot fd:0" and it spits out "READ TIMEOUT" a few times, then
drops back to the OpenFirmware prompt (with an error code, I can get it
if it's needed).  The floppy appears to be okay, I can mount it on
another machine, and the drive seems to be able to access other floppies
(tested with a random MacOS floppy).
Any suggestions?

thanks
 -Adam