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Software - Support => Installing Linux Lite => Topic started by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 12:22:26 PM

Title: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 12:22:26 PM
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 :)
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 13, 2019, 01:37:53 PM
First question, are you using our UEFI image?

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Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 02:20:02 PM
First question, are you using our UEFI image?

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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!
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 13, 2019, 03:07:38 PM
What's the exact make and model of your laptop? eg. MacBook Pro Early 2011 13"  MC700LL/A.

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Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 04:12:53 PM
What's the exact make and model of your laptop? eg. MacBook Pro Early 2011 13"  MC700LL/A.

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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)
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 13, 2019, 04:42:53 PM
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.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 13, 2019, 04:50:17 PM
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
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 09:22:39 PM
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. :(
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: bitsnpcs on April 13, 2019, 09:37:41 PM
It says the Etcher for Mac is 10.9 onwards. Which version do you have  ?
There may be another Etcher version for it.

Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 09:47:05 PM
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.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: bitsnpcs on April 13, 2019, 09:50:45 PM
There is this one for PC , I used it before when I had a windows computer to make Linux Lite usb stick - https://www.linuxliveusb.com/ (https://www.linuxliveusb.com/)
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 13, 2019, 11:32:19 PM
There is this one for PC , I used it before when I had a windows computer to make Linux Lite usb stick - https://www.linuxliveusb.com/ (https://www.linuxliveusb.com/)

I have no problem with making the usb drive with Rufus, but it just won't boot. Sees it as a drive, but not booting :(
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: bitsnpcs on April 14, 2019, 12:24:42 AM
It sounds similar to when it is not set in bios to boot from USB , but as you installed the other distro this won't be the case. Unless that install changed the settings.
I am unsure of what the problem may be.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 14, 2019, 02:10:48 AM
Try A DVD.

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Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: phirephoto on April 16, 2019, 04:11:08 PM
Try A DVD.

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No other media drive on that macbook :(
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 16, 2019, 04:29:10 PM
It may be just too old. If you can't even get a USB to boot by holding down the Option key and selecting EFI, then I'm out of ideas sorry. That at the very least, should be enough to get started.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: minesheep on April 27, 2019, 03:51:59 PM
What is the OS on your pc is it windows 10 or windows 8.1 or windows 7?
With windows you may be able to convert MBR to GPT, but I am not sure.
You will need to make the final installation in gpt too, but your HDD should be GPT already.
I will try when i can, now i have not windows machine.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: Jerry on April 27, 2019, 10:30:28 PM
What is the OS on your pc is it windows 10 or windows 8.1 or windows 7?
With windows you may be able to convert MBR to GPT, but I am not sure.
You will need to make the final installation in gpt too, but your HDD should be GPT already.
I will try when i can, now i have not windows machine.

This is for a Macbook.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: minesheep on April 28, 2019, 05:01:27 PM
Is there a way to convert the LL image to GPT?
No, but there is a way to make bootable usb without repartitioning it. Make your usb use GPT partition table with gparted, then make one partition to it I would use fat32 and finally use program called universal usb installer on windows or on wine on linux to get LL installer to that partition. But I am not sure if LL can work with GPT at all.
Title: Re: Install Linux Lite on Macbook
Post by: yugnip on July 30, 2019, 07:33:43 PM
Hey there, I realize I am replying to a rather old thread, but wanted to do so in the event someone needs assistance in the future :)

Some older macs do not boot from USB, for example my mbp cicra 2004. It makes installing a head scratcher for sure, especially if you don't have a working dvd drive.

One possible solution is Apple's Target Disk Mode. Target Disk Mode allows you to mount your mac's drive on another mac. To use it, you'll need another mac that can boot either from a USB or DVD. This will allow you to run the installer on the secondary machine, but install on the target machine.

Convoluted as heck, I know. But from experience it works. Check out this article for more info on Target Disk Mode:

https://www.howtogeek.com/214322/how-to-boot-your-mac-in-target-disk-mode-for-easy-file-transfers/

There's also Apple's Support article:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201462