Install Linux Lite on Macbook

[phirephoto]

Hi All,

So I have an old macbook Pro that's EOL. Can't even recall what O/S was on it, but couldn't run many applications. So I figured I'd put Linux Lite on it - have LL on a few other laptops (PC's), so figured I'd keep it in the family. Near as I can tell (unless someone knows otherwise), I can't get the macbook to boot from a USB unless the image is GPT. Any MBR boot drives I create aren't even recognized as boot drives. So when I hit option to boot, I can't even select it. Maybe there's something else I'm missing, but that looks like it.

Any suggestions? Is there a way to convert the LL image to GPT? I tried googling but maybe I'm not googling it right. It's a 64 bit macbook. Want it to be non dual boot, just linux lite.

I was able to get AntiX Linux installed, but prefer LL.

Oh, if it matters, I'm creating the boot thumb drive on a PC using Rufus.

Thanks

[Valtam]

First question, are you using our UEFI image?

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[phirephoto]

First question, are you using our UEFI image?

Sent from my Mobile phone using Tapatalk

I wasn't aware there was a UEFI image, I don't think - just now saw it on the site under downloads. Will that allow me to use GPT? If so I'll try that tonight! Thanks!

[Valtam]

What's the exact make and model of your laptop? eg. MacBook Pro Early 2011 13"  MC700LL/A.

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[phirephoto]

What's the exact make and model of your laptop? eg. MacBook Pro Early 2011 13"  MC700LL/A.

Sent from my Mobile phone using Tapatalk

Going from my notes (I'll confirm at home)

Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.33 15" Specs A1211 / T7600 (I believe late 2006 or early 2007)

[Valtam]

Installing Linux on a Mac, there isn't a one size fits all solution. When I installed LL on my Macbook Pro 2011, there are very very specific instructions. GPU, wired, wireless can all affect whether you can even boot to a desktop or not. Your best bet is just to try boot the UEFI ISO, and go from there. Basic start:

Burn ISO with Etcher
Insert USB to Macbook
Boot Mac, hold Option key, select EFI boot.

Cross fingers and toes Go to Ubuntu forums for specific help with your specific hardware.

[Valtam]

If you have AMD graphics card, and you just can't boot to a desktop, this is the best I can offer:

Press E at Grub, do:

Look for the line set gfxpayload=keep. Once you’ve found it, type the following lines underneath to disable the AMD graphics card:

outb 0x728 1
outb 0x710 2
outb 0x740 2
outb 0x750 0

Next find the kernel line and after “quiet splash” add the following:

i915.lvds_channel_mode=2 i915.modeset=1 i915.lvds_use_ssc=0

F10 to boot.


Disable AMD graphics card permanently:

sudo leafpad /etc/default/grub

when the file opens search for the line:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=“quiet splash“

and change it to:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash i915.lvds_channel_mode=2 i915.modeset=1 i915.lvds_use_ssc=0"

sudo leafpad /etc/grub.d/10_linux

when the file opens find the line:

echo "  insmod gzio" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"

And place the following immediately before this line:

echo "  outb 0x728 1" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x710 2" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x740 2" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x750 0" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"

sudo update-grub

[phirephoto]

If you have AMD graphics card, and you just can't boot to a desktop, this is the best I can offer:

Press E at Grub, do:

Look for the line set gfxpayload=keep. Once you’ve found it, type the following lines underneath to disable the AMD graphics card:

outb 0x728 1
outb 0x710 2
outb 0x740 2
outb 0x750 0

Next find the kernel line and after “quiet splash” add the following:

i915.lvds_channel_mode=2 i915.modeset=1 i915.lvds_use_ssc=0

F10 to boot.


Disable AMD graphics card permanently:

sudo leafpad /etc/default/grub

when the file opens search for the line:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=“quiet splash“

and change it to:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash i915.lvds_channel_mode=2 i915.modeset=1 i915.lvds_use_ssc=0"

sudo leafpad /etc/grub.d/10_linux

when the file opens find the line:

echo "  insmod gzio" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"

And place the following immediately before this line:

echo "  outb 0x728 1" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x710 2" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x740 2" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"
echo "  outb 0x750 0" | sed "s/^/$submenu_indentation/"

sudo update-grub

Thanks for the tips. I did have to use nomodeset when I installed AntiX...

So - on Rufus, I needed to select NTFS (default was Fat32). The mac sees the drive - I can select it from the boot menu, but nothing happens. I select it, hit enter - nothing.

I tried using Etcher, and the mac doesn't even see the drive.

[bitsnpcs]

It says the Etcher for Mac is 10.9 onwards. Which version do you have  ?
There may be another Etcher version for it.

[phirephoto]

It says the Etcher for Mac is 10.9 onwards. Which version do you have  ?
There may be another Etcher version for it.

Err.. I mean I burned the USB drive on a PC using Etcher. The mac doesn't see the drive to boot from it.