the culprit was CONFIG_FB_NVIDIA, which should not be set. the following changes fix the boot on PowerMac 7,2, and add support for the soundcard.
cheers, paul $ diff /boot/config-2.6.12-1-powerpc64 /boot/config-2.6.12-powerpc64def 3,4c3,4 < # Linux kernel version: 2.6.12-1-powerpc64 < # Tue Sep 6 23:15:30 2005 --- > # Linux kernel version: 2.6.12-powerpc64def > # Sat Sep 17 18:52:33 2005 1542c1543 < CONFIG_FB_NVIDIA=y --- > # CONFIG_FB_NVIDIA is not set 1686c1687 < # CONFIG_SND_POWERMAC is not set --- > CONFIG_SND_POWERMAC=m -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]