So the "incompatible bootmenu" message is displayed by the /etc/init.d/nit-boot-basics script. Code: if [ -L /var/run ]; then # WARNING: This install has been corrupted! /sbin/fb-progress -b 000000 -p ff0000 -c -l /usr/share/nit-bootmenu-compat/incompatible-bootmenu.jpg -i 100 -o 100 sleep 15 reboot -f fi It apparently checks whether /var/run is a symbolic link. I removed the checking, letting it proceed and it actually did, but then froze when the load bar was just a centimetre away from finishing. My biggest question: how to turn off the splash screen, so I can actually see what's causing the trouble?
if [ -L /var/run ]; then # WARNING: This install has been corrupted! /sbin/fb-progress -b 000000 -p ff0000 -c -l /usr/share/nit-bootmenu-compat/incompatible-bootmenu.jpg -i 100 -o 100 sleep 15 reboot -f fi
mv /lib/init/splash-functions /lib/init/splash-functions.old