Re: Can't boot AmigaOS

[Ignatios Souvatzis <is%jocelyn.rhein.de@localhost>]

On Sat, Apr 08, 2000 at 02:24:19PM -0400, Ben Bogart - FMPM/F1999 wrote:
> I've run into a situation where i cannot boot AmigaOS.
> How can I:
> 
> 1. Boot netbsd into single user mode without loadbsd, or AmigaOS

Install and use a boot block on the NetBSD root partition. Of course, this
assumes you HAVE a way to boot netbsd first.

Given access to another Amiga, you could connect your disk there, and use
it to install the bootblock.

> 2. Change the bootblock so that netbsd will always boot only 
> recongnizing the first 4MB of fastram on the motherboard. 
> (As I am having problems with my upper 12MB)

As far as I can tell, NetBSD does not work with less than 6 MB
of non-CHIP RAM. If it did, you would use this command line for the 
bootblock:

netbsd -n0 -m4096

To make this permanent, you have to change the string in 
/sys/arch/amiga/stand/bootblock/boot/main.c, line about 83 (for the 1.4.2 
version) and recompile the bootblock (cd /sys/arch/amiga/stand/bootblock/;
make ; make install), then use /usr/mdec/installboot to install the bootblock
into place (see its manual page).

This requires the "syssrc" and an installed compiler, of course.

> 3. How can I change the bootblock so that netbsd boots with all 16 when I 
> find the problem to my RAM troubles?

see above.

I suggest that you make sure the RAM chips are firmly seated in their sockets,
assuming you have an A3000... this was a major troublemaker for me, some
years ago.

Regards,
        -is