I described a problem thus:

>>> I was trying to install netbsd-1.2 (pmax) on a DECstation 5000/125,
>>> using the miniroot method, but when I tried to boot the miniroot, after
>>> telling me the sizes of the kernel and claiming at was starting at
>>> "blah" address, it started methodically writing garbage to the top half
>>> or so of my screen and "sort of" scrolling it (i.e. "scrolling" the top
>>>  [...]
>>> The graphics card is a PMAG-AA (according to cnfg), and the model


maximum entropy <entropy@zippy.bernstein.com> stated:

>> The PMAG-AA (mfb) frame buffer driver in 1.2 is broken.  I submitted
>> some patches a while back which I believe have been integrated (in
>> modified form) into -current and recent binary snapshots.

Wonderful!


Matthew Schnierle <pyld@grove.iup.edu> added:

> I experienced the same problem on a 5000/125 with a pmag-b.  It seemed that
> the mfb console driver was broken, up until a few weeks ago, when patches
> were submitted and (I believe) integrated into -current.  
> 
> If you have another pmax running netbsd, you could roll a nfsinstall kernel
> from -current and boot it over the network.  
> 
> Personally, I had been running the thing headless from a vt100 until the mfb
> stuff was tinkered with.  If you have an old vt terminal or a 386 with
> kermit, you could just boot the thing headless, roll a -current kernel, then
> switch to the console.

Great, I'll try one of the above.  I've been meaning to learn how to upgrade 
to "current" anyway. :-)  




Anne.
--
Ms. Anne Bennett          anne@alcor.concordia.ca            (514) 848-7606
Computing Services,   Concordia University,   Montreal QC,   Canada H3G 1M8