PowerMac G5 Booting Error

[randyjrsteffens]

Hello!

I installed Ubuntu on a free internal hard drive in my G5, from the Live CD. Everything went great! When I hold down the "option" key during start up, I am presented with a choice of which OS I want to boot. I can select the OS X icon, or the Linux icon. When I select Linux, I am presented with another screen asking me to hit l for Linux, x for OS X, and c for booting from CD. However, when I hit l, I am taken back to the screen with the HD icons. When I chose Linux once again, I am again presented with the screen asking me to hit l,x, or c. If I hit l, I am taken back to the previous screen once again, in an endlessly repeating cycle. How can I successfully boot Ubuntu?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Randy

[didg]

Did you move the hard drive?

[randyjrsteffens]

No, I never touched it. I have two hard drives in my machine, and both are internal. I allowed the Ubuntu installer to erase the entire second hard drive. The first drive is running mac OS X.

Thanks for your help!

[randyjrsteffens]

Oh, by the way, I re-installed Ubuntu, with no change in the booting error.

[didg]

Weird, because what's your seeing is typical of a moved drive, ie you have the a boot partition because you can see it in the Mac chooser but the bootloader, which is loaded (the second screen), can't find yaboot and reboot, on the other hand I never installed Ubuntu on a G5, only run the live CD.

Which version are you using?
If you restart with the live CD are you seeing your partition? If yes what's in /media/something/etc/yaboot.conf?

[randyjrsteffens]

I am using version 6.10.

When I run from the live CD, choose system>GNOME partition editor, and select my second drive from the drop down list, here is what I get:

The partition "/dev/sdb1" has a triangular warning symbol next to it, and the file system is "unknown".

The next partition, "/dev/sdb2", is an "hfs" filesystem, that is flagged as "boot".

"/dev/sdb3" is an "ext3" filesystem.

"/dev/sdb4" is marked as "linux-swap" filesystem, flagged as "swap".

When I use the file browser to select the "media" folder, it appears to have nothing in it.

Thanks! --Randy

[grazie]

You need a bootstrap partition to boot linux. It's hopefully on your other drive /dev/sda. You didn't state what method you used to install Ubuntu. You get three options something like

1. Wipe and use whole disk
2. Use largest free space
3. Set up disk partitions manually

Which selection did you make?

It would also be useful to post the outputs from the followiing

$ sudo mac-fdisk -l /dev/sda
$ sudo mac-fdisk -l /dev/sdb

[randyjrsteffens]

I chose the first option, "erase entire hard drive". I didn't have anything on it I wanted to save.

Here is the result of the first query (sudo mac-fdisk -l /dev/sda)
# type name length base (size ) system
/dev/sda1 Apple_partition_map Apple 63 @ 1 (31.5k) Partition map
/dev/sda2 Apple_Free 262144@64 (128.0M) Free Space
dev/sda3 Apple_HFS Apple_HFS_Untitled_1 770662504@262208 (367.5G) HFS
dev/sda4 Apple_HFS eDrive 10498040 @ 770924712 ( 5.0G) HFS
/dev/sda5 Apple_Free Extra 16 @ 781422752 ( 8.0k) Free Space

Block size=512, Number of Blocks=781422768
DeviceType=0x0, DeviceId=0x0


I will list the results of the second query in another post below.

Thanks! Randy

[randyjrsteffens]

Here are the results for the query: sudo mac-fdisk -l /dev/sdb

# type name length base (size) system
/dev/sdb1 Apple_partion_map Apple 63@1 (31.5k) Partition map
/dev/sdb2 Apple_Bootstrap untitled 1954@64 (977.0k) NewWorld bootlock
/dev/sdb3 Apple_UNIX_SVR2 untitled 959144532@2018 (457.4G) Linux native
/dev/sdb4 Apple_UNIX_SVR2 swap 17626618@959146550 (8.4G) Linux swap

Block size=512, Number of Blocks=976773168
DeviceType=0x0, DeviceId=0x0

[grazie]

Well you do have bootstrap partition and it's on /dev/sdb It wasn't easy to spot on your earlier post - did you get those details from gparted?

The next thiing to do is post your /etc/yaboot.conf and /etc/fstab files. Boot the Live CD and in a terminal mount your HD as follows
$ sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
Then post the output of the following
$ sudo cat /mnt/etc/yaboot.conf
$ sudo cat /mnt/etc/fstab

Finally
$ sudo umount /mnt
Depending on how you connect to the internet, you should be able to do this directly from the booted Live CD.

[randyjrsteffens]

The output for sudo cat /etc/yaboot/conf. is : "no such file or directory"

The output for sudo cat /etc/fstab is:

unionfs / unionfs rw 0 0
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs nosuid,nodev 0 0

[grazie]

Sorry, my mistake. I've corrected the cat commands in my previous post. Please try again.

[randyjrsteffens]

The sudo cat /mnt/etc/yaboot.conf yealded the same output as last time.

sudo cat /mnt/etc/fstab yielded:

# fs_spec fs_file fs_vfstype fs_mntops
#
#UUID=DF000C7E-AE0C-3B15-B730-DFD2EF15CB91 /export ufs ro
#UUID=FAB060E9-79F7-33FF-BE85-E1D3ABD3EDEA none hfs rw,noauto
#LABEL-This\040Is\040The\040Volume\040Name none msdos ro

[grazie]

If that's the contents, then you should have had some errors during the install.

Can you describe exactly which G5 you have, which iso you downloaded and what steps you went through to do the install.

[randyjrsteffens]

I have a Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5, with 3GB Ram. I downloaded the file named "ubuntu-6.10-desktop-powerpc.iso". As far as the installation, I inserted the live CD, held down the "c" key, and pressed "enter" at the prompt. Once Ubuntu desktop was active, I clicked the "install" icon on the desktop. I followed the on screen instructions, choosing full disc erase for my second internal hard drive (my primary internal hard drive runs OS 10.4.8). The installation proceeded apparently normally. After the installation, the computer prompted me to either restart, or continue using live CD. After I chose restart, the computer ejected the CD and asked me to retract the tray, and press enter. Here one odd thing did occur. The tray wouldn't retract using the retract key (f12), so I manually retracted it, and pressed enter. Nothing happened, so after I had pressed enter several times, and the same screen continued to display, I just forced the computer off by holding down the power key. This exact sequence of events occurred both times I tried to install Ubuntu. Should I try version 6.06? Or should I perhaps use the install CD rather than the live CD?

Thanks so much for your input.
Randy

[didg]

Randy

the tray wouldn't retract using the retract key : it's a known bug with a known cause, it never works and anyway won't at this stage when the system is nearly down without userland running. I think you misunderstood what the msg say, on x86 you have to remove the CD otherwise it will boot again from it, not so on a Mac.


pressed enter: again a known bug with a known cause, CTRL+J should reboot/stop though.

I think your problem is related to sata stuff ie ide drives are shown as scsi drives and it confused the installer.

About 6.06 I don't think it's a good idea, IIRC there's problems with fans.

grazie made a mistake, it's
sudo mount /dev/sdb3 /mnt
not sda3 this one is your OSX drive can you retry the the cat /mnt/etc/yaboot.conf with sdb3?

[randyjrsteffens]

Thanks! here is the output of the new code:

## yaboot.conf generated by the Ubuntu installer
##
##run: "man yaboot.conf" for details. Do not make changes until you have!!
##see also : /usr/share/doc/yaboot/examples for example configurations.
##
##For a dual-boot menu, add one or more of:
##bsd=/dev/hdaX, macos=/dev/hdaY, macosx=/dev/hdaZ

boot=/dev/sdb2
device=/disc@0:
partition=3
root=/dev/sdb3
timeout=100
install=/usr/lib/yaboot/yaboot
magicboot=/usr/lib/yaboot/ofboot
enablecdboot
macosx=/dev/sda3

image=/boot/vmlinux
label=Linux
read-only
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="quiet splash"

image=/boot/vmlinux.old
label=old
read-only
initrd=/boot/initrd.img.old
append="quiet splash"

[didg]

Ok, it's bad but not too bad :)

device=/disc@0:
is wrong

last questions before trying a fix:
output of

cat /proc/scsci/scsi

find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"

cat /proc/dev-tree/aliases/hd

cat /proc/dev-tree/aliases/cd

cat /proc/dev-tree/aliases/ide0

[randyjrsteffens]

Thanks for your help. I am getting the message "no such file or directory" for every one of the queries you listed. Perhaps I am doing something wrong???

Randy

[didg]

Are you doing it from OSX or Linux liveCD? /proc is only in linux

[randyjrsteffens]

I was using the live CD.

Here is exactly what I entered.

sudo mount /dev/sdb3 /mnt

Then,

sudo cat /proc/scsci/scsi

Followed by the other queries in the same manner. Is that correct?


--Randy

[didg]

Oops, sorry my mistake.

it's
cat /proc/scsi/scsi
find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"
cat /proc/device-tree/aliases/hd

You

[randyjrsteffens]

Ok Great!

Here is what I got:

sudo cat /proc/scsi/scsi:

attached devices:
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
Vendor: ATA Model:HDS724040KLSA80 Rev: KFAO
Type: Direct-Acess ANSI SCSI revision: 05
Host:scsil Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
Vendor: ATA Model:ST3500641AS Rev: 3.AA
Type: Direct-Acess ANSI SCSI revision: 05

[randyjrsteffens]

Output for:

sudo find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"
sudo cat /proc/device-tree/aliases/hd

/ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@0/disk@0ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[randyjrsteffens]

output for :
sudo cat /proc/device-tree/aliases/cd

/ht/pci@5/ata-6/disk@0ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[randyjrsteffens]

Output for sudo cat /proc/device-tree/aliases/ide0:

"no such file or directory"

[didg]

Great, but no output for
find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"
?

[randyjrsteffens]

After I entered:

sudo find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"

I was presented with

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[randyjrsteffens]

I apologize, but I must have accidentally typed that query wrong! I am now getting an output.

output for
sudo find /proc/device-tree/ -name "*disk*"

Is:
/proc/device-tree/ht@0, f2000000/pci@7/k2-sata-root@c-sata@1/disk@0
/proc/device-tree/ht@0, f2000000/pci@7/k2-sata-root@c-sata@0/disk@0
/proc/device-tree/ht@0, f2000000/pci@5/firewire@e/node@000bc2030003bda5/sbp-2@4008/disk@0
/proc/device-tree/ht@0, f2000000/pci@5/ata-6@d/disk
/proc/device-tree/firewire-disk-mode
/proc/device-tree/packages/sbp2-disk
/proc/device-tree/packages/atapi-disk
/proc/device-tree/packages/ata-disk
/proc/device-tree/packages/disk-label

Once again, sorry about that, and thanks for your help!
--Randy

[didg]

Ok I don't know exactly why ofpath fails (I'll try saturday, I can't restart G5s now).

boot the liveCD
Be careful and triple check that you always type sdb never sda it's your
OSX volume, you have a backup of the important stuff on it anyway, right? :)

open a terminal

sudo /bin/bash
umount /dev/sdb3

umount may return an error, umount: /dev/sdb3: not mounted, ignore it

type
mount /dev/sdb3 /mnt
mount -o bind /proc/ /mnt/proc
mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sys
mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev

cd /mnt

chroot . bin/bash
cd /etc
edit yaboot.conf and replace the line
device=/disc@0:
by
device=/ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:
and add the following lines:
ofboot=/ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:2

your yaboot.conf before :

boot=/dev/sdb2
device=/disc@0:
partition=3
...

now:
boot=/dev/sdb2
device=/ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:
ofboot=/ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:2
partition=3
...


again type

ybin -v --nonvram
exit
umount /mnt

reboot

--nonvram doesn't change the default disk in openfirmware so you have to choose linux with the ALT key at power up.

[randyjrsteffens]

After typing

cd /etc

what do I type to see the contents of, and edit yaboot.conf?

Thanks!

Randy

[didg]

The easiest? If you're using Ubuntu live cd before you type

chroot . /usr/bin
type

gedit /mnt/etc/yaboot.conf

make changes and quit gedit
and go on with chroot

OT but can you run
sh -x /usr/sbin/ofpath /dev/sdb3 2> /tmp/out
and post /tmp/out ? I'd like to understand why ofpath failed.

[randyjrsteffens]

output of:
sh -x /usr/sbin/ofpath /dev/sdb3 2> /tmp/out

is:

/disk@0:3

I'll try the new code you gave me.

Thanks,

Randy

[randyjrsteffens]

Ok, did as you said, and edited yaboot.conf

when I come to the ybin -v --nonvram command, I get the output:

Failed to initialize HFS working directories: No such file or directory
ybin: /dev/sdb2 appears to have never had a bootstrap installed, please run mkof boot

Upon restart, the initial problem still exists.

--Randy

[didg]

Ok, sorry I forgot one thing
before you run ybin -v --novram
type:
export HOME=/tmp

you don't need te redit yaboot.conf

[randyjrsteffens]

Ok, after running

export HOME=/tmp

and then

ybin -v --nonvram

I get the following message:

hmount: /dev/sdb2: not a Macintosh HFS volume (invalid argument)
ybin: /dev/sdb2 appears to have never had a bootstrap installed, please run mkofboot

Thanks!

Randy

[didg]

And you when you reboot you still have the linux icon and first stage bootloader?
If not you can use mkofboot rather than ybin
If yes I'm not sure, there's something I don't understand.

What's you can do if you have the firt stage boot loader is enter o
and type after the prompt 0 >
boot /ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:2,\install\yaboot

[didg]

sorry
boot /ht/pci@7/k2-sata-root/k2-sata@1/disk@0:2,\yaboot

[randyjrsteffens]

Well, I re-installed the Ubuntu OS, and went through the entire procedure you outlined once more, and it WORKED!!

THANKS SO, SO MUCH!!

--Randy

[didg]

Great.
If you have time on your new shinny linux box can you run from a terminal:

sh -x /usr/sbin/ofpath /dev/sdb3 2> /tmp/out

And post the file in tmp folder:
/tmp/out

I'm trying to figure out why it doesn't find the openfirwmare path for your disk.

[aboz]

It's a bug in ofpath. I had to battle with this one too.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2116501&postcount=16

[TheCleaner]

Any chance that didg or the OP is still around?

I'm having the exact same problem only I have a single hard drive. Almost all of my screen outputs were the exact same as mentioned here. I erased the drive and have followed the directions given...getting all the way to a terminal screen that said something like "Blessing with Penguin Pee".

Then I reboot and it locks up and I force it off then on, and now I get a white screen saying "Loading second stage bootloader" and then it keeps repeating.

Any help is much appreciated!