Well, a quick web search reveals that I was mistaken about the
bootability of bootcamp directly.  Some further thoughts.

1.  Although it might seem counter intuitive, you probably can boot a
Windows XP cd, just as you can boot NetBSD, and so could install Windows to
your hard disk.  Then, you could install the Bootcamp drivers under
Windows, which might set things back to rights.

2.  In some notes I found on putting Linux on one's powerpc mini, it
discusses the need to put gpt labels on the disk as well as MBR partitions.
I know you said you trried your untouched Mac OS X disk, and it didn't
work, but I wonder if there's some sort of flash inside the unit that
stores some sort of gpt label that got zorched somehow?

3.  Since you've opened up the unit to switch hard drives, did you also try
removing any batteries from the motherboard and wandering off for an
extended lunch before putting them back and trying again?

4.  Do you have another mac with Mac OS X installed?  If so, then perhaps
you can repartition with a 200MB FAT partition as the first partition on
your hard drive to put the refit utility in and thus boot into that and get
things going.  Instructions at: 
          http://felipe-alfaro.org/blog/2006/09/19/installing-refit-on-the-hidden-efi-system-partition/


	Hope that helps.
-Brian
On Nov 6, 11:02pm, Johan Ihren wrote:
} Subject: Re: Inverted boot problem for a Mac Mini
} Hi,
} 
} On 6 Nov 2007, at 21:32, Brian Buhrow wrote:
} 
} > 	Another thought that I had was that you said you could boot from the
} > NetBSD cd or the NetBSD installed on the hard disk, but couldn't  
} > boot from
} > the OS X cd from Apple.  This may be a third stupid question, but  
} > have you
} > tried booting the Bootcamp cd, which I believe has utilities to  
} > configure
} > your mac in various ways.  If you can boot from the Bootcamp cd,  
} > perhaps it
} > can then restore functionality required to let OS X boot.
} 
} Sounds great. But I haven't found anything called a "BootCamp CD". If  
} I search for the over at Apple all I come up with is an iMac specific  
} firmware update. I suspect that there once was a BootCamp CD but that  
} it has disappeared as Leopard was released.
} 
} If anyone has an image of this thing (that hasn't already expired) I  
} would be much obliged...
} 
} Johan
} 
} > On Nov 6,  8:59pm, "Marco Trillo" wrote:
} > } Subject: Re: Inverted boot problem for a Mac Mini
} > } Hi,
} > }
} > } On 11/6/07, Johan Ihren <johani@johani.org> wrote:
} > } > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
} > } > Hash: SHA1
} > } >
} > } >
} > } > On 6 Nov 2007, at 03:19, Jared D. McNeill wrote:
} > } >
} > } > > On Tue, 6 Nov 2007, Johan Ihren wrote:
} > } > >> So, in short: Doesn't listen to the keyboard at all during  
} > boot,
} > } > >> doesn't boot Mac media (HDD or DVD) but does boot NetBSD media
} > } > >> (HDD or CD). I'm stuck with NetBSD ;-)
} > } > >
} > } > > Maybe a stupid question, but have you tried holding down the  
} > option
} > } > > key while powering on?
} > } >
} > } > Yep. I've tried every magic keypress I've been able to squeeze  
} > out of
} > } > Google. Pressing any combination of keys while booting is a no-op.
} > }
} > } This is also a stupid question, but are you using a USB keyboard
} > } (i.e., no Bluetooth or so) to press the Option or the C key ?
} > }
} > }      -Marco
} >> -- End of excerpt from "Marco Trillo"
} >
} >
} 
>-- End of excerpt from Johan Ihren