>> i reboot my machine and mistakenly get involved in a conversation, so
>> when i actually get around to pressing f3 (to select netbsd from
>> mbr_bootsel), it's too late.
>
>You could always increase the timeout for the mbr_bootsel code.
>However don't make it more than 1/2 the apparant maximum.
>(I've a lurking fix that also allows indefinite timeout)

nah...that'd have the unfortunate side-effect that regular unattended
booting would take longer.  the point is not that i don't have enough
time to press the key, the point is that i get distracted at the
crucial moment and then the bootblocks stop behaving as expected
(after i punch f3).  they shouldn't stop acknowledging keypresses
while they're counting down.

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