In article <199904011707.JAA04611@nb00.nas.nasa.gov> you write:
> Module Name:	src
> Committed By:	drochner
> Date:		Thu Apr  1 17:07:54 UTC 1999
> 
> Modified Files:
> 	src/sys/arch/i386/stand/lib/crt/bootsect: start_bootsect.S
> Log Message:
> On serious boot errors, dont lock the machine. Instead, wait 3 seconds
> and call the ROM BASIC vector. This might behave differently on different
> machines, but normally it allows to reboot without power-cycling.

Is this really a good idea? This is the vector that goes to 40 column
mode and prints "NO ROM BASIC" normally, right? First of all, that
message may be confusing to many people who associate it with the MBR
being trashed.

Secondly, It seems to me that this vector is likely to be one of the
least well tested parts of any BIOS, and most likely to vary from vendor
to vendor, version to version. I don't know much at all about PC BIOSes,
but using such an ancient and, I assume, infrequently used interface is
begging for trouble, I think. Who knows what it will do on any given
machine.