problems installing debian on a c180

i had previously done some messing around with a c180 and at one time figured
out how to install but have since lost my notes.

i have a c180 with an hp A4071B graphics card installed in GSC slot 3 and
recognized as HPA4071B_LZ

i know i previously had to enter "video=stifb:off" in the palo:

default when i choose to interact with ipl on boot as parameters to kernal in
palo are:

1. 0/vmlinux
2. ramdisk_size=8192
3. initrd=0/ramdisk
4. console=tty0
5. sti=1/0/0
6. sti_font=VGA8x16
7. TERM=linux

if i accept default it gets past that message indicating a problem with console
but the screen goes black although it looks as if the monitor is still active
i.e. green light not a yellow one.

i am using the debian 3.0r1 disk as my boot disk.

i recall the last time i got the install to work i got a penguin in the corner
but graphic install never worked and i had some difficulty with the x server
starting. any help on reinstallation would be appreciated i.e. necessary mods
to the parameters on boot to get back to installing.

thanks in advance and sorry for regressing.

There should the place where you would probaly insert "video=stifb:off" (just for remind: select 4 then at the end of line insert a space followed by video=stifb:off)

hmm the most simple way would be first to re-try the install from a serial console (or an actual conole in vt100 emulation or a minicom session from another system). (the tips is to unplug ps/2 kbd/mouse so the pdc will switch automatically console to serial port 1 at reboot time)

Once your system is ready you may be first update it (with apt-get for example) and install a more recent kernel (iirc 2.4.21 should be already pkged or a 2.4 cvs) to be sure that pb was not already solved since 3.0 cds. If you still experiment pb into <http://parisc-linux.org/mailing-lists/index.html> you could try to search (with google engine) "c180" related mail in this ml

Another solution could be to try a netinstall from a recent lifimage available near <http://pateam.esiee.fr/cd-images/testing>.

hth,
Joel