On Feb 9, 2006, at 8:30 PM, Ross Harvey wrote:

>
> I have a blue & white G3/350 Yosemite with 9.2.1 on the drive.
>
> I would like to netboot -current but I can't get an open firmware
> prompt.

Using an ADB keyboard, Apple USB keyboard, or non-apple USB keyboard?

> If I tell it to boot into ofw via SystemDisk (input: "keyboard",
> output: "screen") the LCD stays dark. It doesn't seem to be away
> in a serial mode, tho, because if I type "mac-boot" (in the blind)
> it then boots up into MacOS just fine.

You shouldn't have to mess with any variables on OF3 machines other  
than auto-boot? false or boot-command.

> It seems like Open Firmware just doesn't default to output to a
> PCI expansion card on a box like this which has no on-board video,
> not even if the card is original equipment, which I'm pretty sure
> this one is.

I have a B&W G3 400 with the same card and it works fine.

> I looked around for possible device paths and tried a couple:
> 	/bandit@F2000000/ATY,Rage128y@D
> 	/pci@80000000/ATY,Rage128y@10

Thats quite wrong, there's no bandit in a B&W G3, and the video card  
sits behind a PCI bridge and I don't think the /pci@foo is the right  
address either. I'd look, but it's the system I'm typing this on. If  
you want to gamble on picking the right instance, I'd try /pci/@10,  
but output screen should work fine.

> If I knew how to make it switch to serial I suppose I could try
> that. The box has a mini din-8 printer port and an RJ-11, but it
> has an internal modem so I don't think the RJ-11 is serial.

I don't think there's any way to have both a DIN-8 and an internal  
modem, it's either modem or G-port/stealth serial port/etc. If in  
doubt, pull it out, maybe it's holding up the boot?

> Does anyone have any suggestions?

My guess is that the Rage128 is trying to sync at a rate that the  
monitor can't handle. You might try dropping the resolution to  
800x600 @ 60 in MacOS and then try the four fingered Cmd-Opt-O-F  
salute. Failing that, you can try set-defaults followed by a reset- 
all command in OFW. And as a last resort reset-nvram followed by  
reset-all, or Cmd-Opt-P-R while booting to reset parameter RAM. Make  
sure you have the monitor on and powered up before you turn on the  
G3. I've heard of corrupted EDID problems causing things like this,  
but I don't think that has ever been an issue for Macs.