Decrementer exception, again

[Lorenz Minder <lminder%gmx.net@localhost>]

Hi,

I'm trying to install NetBSD on a TiBook 1GHz, but unfortunately I
belong to the unlucky crowd of those who get the Decrementer Exception
when trying to boot.

From reading the mailing list archives, I get the impression that there
is no known solution to this problem, but is there something I could try
to get it to run anyway?

A few data points:

* The system runs Linux and OpenBSD 4.3 just fine.

* Here's the output (modulo typos, it's handcopied from screen) when
  trying the NetBSD 4.0 boot ISO:

        Apple PowerBook3,5 4.5.3f2 BootROM built on 10/25/02 at 10:31:30
        Copyright 1994-2002 Apple Computer, Inc.
        All Rights Reserved.

        Welcome to Open Firmware, the system time and date is 08:57:38 
05/31/2008

        To continue booting, type "mac-boot" and press return.
        To shut down, type "shut-down" and press return.

         ok
        0 > boot cd:,\ofwboot.xcf /netbsd.macppc load-size=c6e4 adler32=db469db9

        loading XCOFF

        tsize=c2d0 dsize=234 bsize=29c0 entry=e00000
        SECTIONS:
        .text    00e00000 00e00000 0000c2d0 000000e0
        .data    00e0d000 00e0d000 00000234 0000c3b0
        .bss     00e0d238 00e0d238 000029c0 00000000
        loading .text, done..
        loading .data, done..
        clearing .bss, done..

        >> NetBSD/macppc OpenFirmware Boot, Revision 1.10
        >> (builds@wb30, Sat Dec 15 23:31:51 PST 2007)
        4596796+109808=0x47d480
         start=0x100000

        Decrementer exception at   %SRR0: 00000036   %SRR1: 00003600
         ok
        0 > .registers
        Client's Fix Pt Regs:
         00 ff846b58 7c0802a6 1fc46960 0035e8ec 0035678c 00003030 00100234 
00563c38
         08 00000000 00360000 b000002a 00000008 42000024 00000000 00000000 
00000000
         10 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 
00000000 
         18 00000000 00000000 00560000 0056b06c 0030dda8 ff883d88 00000100 
0035e8ec
        Special Regs:
            %IV: 00000000   %SRR0: 00000036   %SRR1: 00003600
            %CR: 0000b000     %LR: 00360000    %CTR: 360000b0   %XER: 00b00000
           %DAR: b000002a  %DSISR: 00002a00   %SDR1: 42000024
          %HID0: 00000000   %HID1: 00000000   %L3CR: 00000000  %L2CR: 00000000
         %ICTRL: 00000000 %LDSTDB: 00000000 %LDSTCR: 00000000 ok
        0 >

 * I built -current kernel (as of two days ago), and tried to boot that
   one (I used OpenBSD's bootloader though, is that ok for this?) and I
   still get the same Decrementer Exception.

Best,
--Lorenz