The string of dot is expected.  The problem could be with something in the boot script that freezes the  computer.  I`ve
 seen this happen with the pci server on certain machine.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Beck [mailto:community-noreply@qnx.com]
> Sent: December-05-08 5:07 PM
> To: momenticsgs-community
> Subject: Problem with Secondary Boot Loader
> 
> I am trying to install QNX SDP 6.4 on a Dell Precision T3400 (with a
> SATA CDROM & a SATA DVD)
> I am booting a CDROM (from iso:  qnxsdp-6.4.0-200810211530-nto.iso) and
> I get this message:
> 
> Hit ESC for
> .altboot....................................................
> 
> And then it halts (I have left it in this stage over-night so it isn't
> just working slowly).  I have tried booting repeatedly; hitting the ESC
> key and not hitting it.  No difference.
> 
> I have booted this CDROM successfully on other computers and I have
> booted other bootable CDROMs successfully on this Dell Precision.
> Digging through the foundry I found that this symptom seems to indicate
> a problem with the secondary boot loader (as evinced by the string of
> dots), but have no clue what could be wrong.    Does anyone have any
> suggestions?
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> QNX Momentics Getting Started
> http://community.qnx.com/sf/go/post18058
> 

I understand this message thread is way back in 2008, but I am having similar problem and I am hoping someone can help..
.

I have a Compact Flash with QNX6.4.1 and this booted just fine on Kontron hardware (Kontron ETXexpress® miniBaseboard +
 microETXexpress®-SP). But when I replaced the Kontron ETXexpress® miniBaseboard with our custom board, the system 
does not boot. It printed a bunch of "." and then stopped. There is no "S", "D", or "?" printed at the end that 
indicates problem with OS signature or read disk error.

A normal boot (on Kontron board) takes about 5 seconds to load the image (prints the "."), and on our custom board, it 
takes only about 2 seconds.

I also tried to use USB stick to boot. It also booted on Kontron board, but not our custom board.

I created a Compact Flash with DOS6.22 and this booted on both the Kontron and our custom board. So that seems to 
indicates it reads from the Compact Flash with no problem.

I also tried to use DOS Device Driver to load QNX (via qnxldsys), but this only boots on the Kontron hardware, not our 
custom hardware.

I have tried everything I can think of and still have no luck getting it to work. Please let me know if you have any 
insight to this problem. Your help is much appreciated.