Re: PowerMac G5 can't start graphics -- was Re: Updated Debian Ports installation images 2025-08-21

Michael:

Are you using a DVI to VGA adapter?  I had the exact same issue as you
when using one with my PMG5 hooked up to a television.

Cedar

On Thu, 2025-08-21 at 08:17 -0700, Ken Cunningham wrote:
> Also, see this apparently very similar recent issue from last week:
> 
> https://lists.debian.org/debian-powerpc/2025/08/msg00018.html
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On Aug 21, 2025, at 6:35 AM, Jeroen Diederen
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > 
> > You might need to do the following. Boot the machine in recovery
> > mode. You then do:
> > 
> > mv /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so
> > /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so.bak
> > 
> > Ctrl-d or exit to resume booting.
> > 
> > Michael Campbell schreef op 2025-08-21 20:18:
> > > Hi, thanks for this. I am new to this list; this is my first
> > > "post".
> > > I am attempting to install Debian 12 PPC64  on my Power Mac G5
> > > Quad.
> > > The installer runs to completion more or less successfully,
> > > although
> > > it did complain about b43 firmware, presumably related to the
> > > Apple
> > > WiFi/Bluetooth card I have installed. The result boots to GRUB,
> > > and
> > > when I select any non-recovery mode selection from the GRUB menu,
> > > it
> > > takes off nicely. Screens worth of startup messages go by, then
> > > the
> > > screen clears. I BRIEFLY see a text mode login prompt and then
> > > the
> > > screen clears again. That is it. Nothing further happens. I let
> > > it sit
> > > that way for ten minutes, but nothing further happens.
> > > I am TOTALLY new to Debian, although I have a fair deal of
> > > experience
> > > configuring and installing Arch Linux and the old openSuSE.
> > > Does what I described above suggest anything to any reader?
> > > My system details: my G5 Quad has 16 GB of RAM, a Quadro FX 4500
> > > graphics card, two internal SATA HDDs, one actually an SSD and
> > > the
> > > other a 2 TB spinner. It is the spinner that I trying to install
> > > Debian onto. I select Guided, and Whole Disk during install. The
> > > Quad
> > > also has a PCIe eSATA card and a FireWire 800 port expansion
> > > card. It
> > > is also unique in that I have converted it from liquid cooling to
> > > air
> > > cooling, although all the stock Apple fans remain in place and
> > > operative. I have an Apple FW400 iSight camera and a USB
> > > microphone
> > > also attached.
> > > I normally run 10.5.9 Sorbet Leopard on it.
> > > Any thoughts on why the existing new install doesn't seem to come
> > > up
> > > to a point where it is usable would be most appreciated.
> > > Meantime, I will try it this new installer and see if that
> > > changes
> > > things.
> > > Thanks,
> > > Michael
> > > On August 20, 2025 6:31:21 PM EDT, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
> > > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > Hello,
> > > > I just created updated Debian Ports installation images based
> > > > on
> > > > kernel 6.12.38. These are using the debian-installer from
> > > > Trixie.
> > > > They can be downloaded from here:
> > > > https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2025-08-21/
> > > > Please test and report back.
> > > > Known issues are kernel instabilities on sun4u (sparc64)
> > > > machines
> > > > which are currently being investigated. I will write a separate
> > > > mail on the issue.
> > > > Adrian
> > > > --
> > > > .''`.  John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
> > > > : :' :  Debian Developer
> > > > `. `'   Physicist
> > > > `-    GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546  0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
> >