diff --git a/distrib/notes/common/contents b/distrib/notes/common/contents
index 303b7789c3e3..37aa5d62acfa 100644
--- a/distrib/notes/common/contents
+++ b/distrib/notes/common/contents
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.\"	$NetBSD: contents,v 1.112 2004/11/07 18:06:38 mbw Exp $
+.\"	$NetBSD: contents,v 1.113 2004/11/14 04:54:25 mbw Exp $
 .\"
 .\" Copyright (c) 1999-2004 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
 .\" All rights reserved.
@@ -492,14 +492,18 @@ subdirectory
 of the
 .Nx \*V
 .ie \n[sparc64] \{\
-distribution tree.  If you want to install 32-bit only binaries, you will 
-need the
+distribution tree.  
+.(Note
+If you want to install 32-bit only binaries, you will 
+still need to boot using the sparc64 installation tools.  When it 
+asks you for the distribution set to install, provide the
 .Nx /sparc
-.Pa binary/sets
-and will need to use the 
+.Pa binary/sets .
+Be sure to use the 32 bit sparc
 .Pa kern-GENERIC_SUN4U.tgz 
-kernel distribution.  You still need to follow the \*M installation
-procedure, not sparc.
+kernel distribution.  Otherwise, continue to follow the \*M installation
+procedure, not the sparc instructions.
+.Note)
 Most people will want the 64-bit \*M distribution tree:
 .\}
 .el distribution tree, and are as follows:
diff --git a/distrib/notes/common/sysinst b/distrib/notes/common/sysinst
index 7628eb744840..432a2d3579ae 100644
--- a/distrib/notes/common/sysinst
+++ b/distrib/notes/common/sysinst
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.\"	$NetBSD: sysinst,v 1.72 2004/08/23 16:03:57 wiz Exp $
+.\"	$NetBSD: sysinst,v 1.73 2004/11/14 04:54:25 mbw Exp $
 .\"
 .\" Copyright (c) 1999-2004 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
 .\" All rights reserved.
@@ -1947,6 +1947,42 @@ Now you need to mount your destination root partition:
 .Dl # Ic "umount /mnt"
 .Dl # Ic "exit"
 .\}
+.if \n[sparc64] \{\
+.It
+.To 2 "Ensure you have the correct kernel installed"
+.Em "Ensure you have the correct kernel installed"
+.Pp
+If you are installing from the 32-bit sparc distribution set, make sure
+that you installed the correct kernel.  The \*M installation tools do not 
+by default copy the correct 32-bit kernel.  Unless you prepared ahead of 
+time by renaming the
+.Pa kern-GENERIC_SUN4U.tgz
+to
+.Pa kern-GENERIC.tgz
+then you will need to follow the next few instructions.
+.Pp
+Go to the main installation menu, and select
+.Me "Utility menu"
+and then select the
+.Me "Run /bin/sh"
+option, which will give you a shell prompt.
+You may need to type one of the following commands to get your delete key
+to work properly, depending on your keyboard:
+.Dl # Ic "stty erase '^h'"
+.Dl # Ic "stty erase '^?'"
+.Pp
+Type the following command (replacing
+.Pa wd0a
+with the partition name of your destination root partition):
+.Dl # Ic "mount /dev/wd0a /mnt"
+.Dl # Ic "cd /mnt"
+Now you ned to mount the location of your distribution sets:
+.Dl # Ic "mount /dev/cd0a /mnt2"
+.Dl # Ic "tar xpzvf /mnt2/sparc/binary/kernel/kern-GENERIC_SUN4U.tgz"
+.Dl # Ic "umount /mnt"
+.Dl # Ic "umount /mnt2"
+.Dl # Ic "exit"
+.\}
 .It
 .To 2 "Finalizing your installation"
 .Em Finalizing your installation
diff --git a/distrib/notes/common/xfer b/distrib/notes/common/xfer
index 2ca860649b25..0ca709f109f8 100644
--- a/distrib/notes/common/xfer
+++ b/distrib/notes/common/xfer
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.\"	$NetBSD: xfer,v 1.50 2004/09/06 19:08:47 is Exp $
+.\"	$NetBSD: xfer,v 1.51 2004/11/14 04:54:25 mbw Exp $
 .\"
 .\" Copyright (c) 1999-2004 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
 .\" All rights reserved.
@@ -557,6 +557,17 @@ partitions, if performing an upgrade
 The steps necessary to prepare the distribution sets for installation
 depend upon which installation medium you choose.
 The steps for the various media are outlined below.
+.if \n[sparc64] \{\
+.(Note
+If you are installing the 32-bit sparc distribution sets, you will need to 
+rename
+.Pa sparc/binary/sets/kern-GENERIC_SUN4U.tgz
+to
+.Pa kern-GENERIC.tgz
+since the \*M installation tools would otherwise attempt to install the 
+kernel for 32-bit sparc computers which does not boot on \*M systems.
+.Note)
+.\}
 .
 .(tag MS-DOS\ floppy
 .