On Tue, Feb 2, 2021, at 4:22 AM, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz wrote: > Hello! > > For anyone wanting to install a current Debian unstable snapshot onto their > PowerMacs, I'm going to write down a short guide how to make sure GRUB > gets installed properly (in case the installation fails). > > Use either the powerpc or ppc64 image depending on your machine type: > > > https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2021-02-02/ > > Install normally. After GRUB has been installed and the installation has > finished, don't reboot the machine yet. > > Switch to another console and enter the following commands: > > # mount -o bind /dev/ /target/dev/ > # mount -o bind /proc/ /target/proc/ > # mount -o bind /sys/ /target/sys/ > > # chroot /target/ > # bash > # grub-install --macppc-directory=/boot/grub > # export boot_device=$(nvram --print-config=boot-device) > # nvsetenv boot-device ${boot_device%%\\\\BootX}\\grub > > # exit > # exit > # umount /target/dev > # umount /target/proc > # umount /target/sys > # exit > > Then switch back to the installer console. > > I am going to fix the GRUB installation for PowerMacs in the next weeks > once and > for all. I have read through the grub-installer code again and now have > a rough > idea for a proper fix for the issue. The current fix that Frank > Scheiner authored > and that we have been using the past months is actually a bit hacky and > unreliable > which is why I will take another approach which will involve a udeb for > hfsprogs > so that partman-auto can set up the HFS partition automatically. > > Adrian
So I tried this. I installed from the 2021-02-02 NETINST ppc64 on my G5 powermac. When it got to the end and wanted to reboot, I switched to the F2 console and ran the above routine. Then I allowed it to reboot. It did not boot. What I got was a folder with a blinking questionmark. I tried rebooting with the <ALT> key but got nothing there. Please let me know if there's anything else you want me to try! I'm really looking forward to being able to install an up-to-date Debian on this machine! Thanks very much for all your efforts! Rick
