I just installed NetBSD a week ago and I had the same problem.  I followed the 
proper procedures, but I couldn't use vi.  At first I thought it was a path 
problem but when I executed vi it gave me some sort of exec: error.  I think it 
had something to do with being in single user mode, and not having a TERM set.  
My friend who is not around right now.. .  helped me get vi working and then I 
was able to edit the rc.conf.  I am sorry I don't remember what it was exactly, 
but I know that when it happened to me that it wasn't just a matter of locating 
vi.  Once I was able to boot into multi-user, vi worked everytime.

        sorry this posting is only slightly useful,

                        mario

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Annoying little problem
Author:  Colin Wood <cwood@ichips.intel.com> at Internet
Date:    3/25/98 10:00 AM


Jym & Sharon Brittain wrote:
> I have followed the procedure for installation listed on both the MacBSD 
> page and that which came with the 1.3 version. When I go to boot in 
> single user mode to edit rc.conf, I get vi: vi not found. This happens 
> with EVERY command when I use a seperate partition for /usr. Anyone else 
> experience similar problems and have a solution? If I use a joint /root & 
> usr partition it works fine.
> 
> This is on a Mac2ci with 20 megs of RAM and an external Quantum 730 meg 
> HD.
     
I'm fairly sure that this is mentioned in the INSTALL doc, but since 'vi' 
is located in /usr/bin, you need to mount /usr first:
     
mount -r /usr
     
will work just fine.  Once you've done this, you can use vi to edit the 
file.  If this is no where in the INSTALL doc, please let me know.
     
Later.
     
-- 
Colin Wood                                 cwood@ichips.intel.com 
Component Design Engineer - MD6                 Intel Corporation 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
I speak only on my own behalf, not for my employer.