Ubuntu

Ubiquity Freezes at "Updates and other software" after clicking "continue"

Asked by TJ Draper

I'm having trouble getting Ubuntu 19.04 installed on my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) (MacBokPro11,5). I've tried nomodeset, nouveau.modeset=0, I thought maybe the installer was having trouble with the APFS container so I deleted that. I've tried connecting to WiFi, not connecting to WiFi, Normal installation, Minimal installation, Download updates while installing Ubuntu on and off, Install third-party software on and off. None of it makes any difference. Whenever I click continue from that screen, I get the round spinning cursor forever, and ever, and ever.

I don't know if this could be a problem, but somehow over the upgrade cycles and years, where I've had a Windows partition at varying times, updated macOS over time etc. the partitions have gotten weird. Right now where it's at is that in gparted, the macOS recovery partition is the first partition. Then there's 500-ish gigs un-allotted (where I deleted the APFS container), then there's the EFI partition, then there's another 500-ish gigs of un-allotted space. I was going to put Ubuntu on a new ext-4 partition in on of those un-allotted spaces, followed by a swap partition, then macOS back on in the un-allotted space left. I'm afraid to move the EFI partition out of the middle and to the top of the disk in gparted lest I'm left with a bricked MacBook Pro but I also fear the weirdness of the location of partitions may be causing this?

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. I'm a PHP developer and I have Ubuntu 19 on my custom built desktop and I love it. I'd love to get it on my laptop as well.

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#1

What happens if you try the following:

Boot the installer DVD (or USB stick) in the "Try Ubuntu without installing" mode.
Do you get a working desktop?
If you do, then start the installer from the icon on the desktop.

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TJ Draper (tjdraper) said : 		#2

Yes, booting from the installer USB is no problem. I get a fully working desktop. Runs like a top. I have been starting the installer from the icon (although I have also tried booting straight to the installer). Either way the behavior is the same.

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#3

Is only the installer freezing, or the whole machine?

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TJ Draper (tjdraper) said : 		#4

Only the installer. I can open any other application, terminal, Firefox, Files, etc.

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TJ Draper (tjdraper) said : 		#5

Here it is in action: https://vimeo.com/349562084/cad6044c24

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

If you run:

sudo fdisk -l

Do you see partitions OK?

Are you wanting to wipe the drive and install Ubuntu as the only OS?

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TJ Draper (tjdraper) said : 		#7

I can see all the partitions, but I do get a warning: "Partition 1 does not star on physical sector boundary. Partition table entries are not in disk order."

Ultimately I want to dual boot macOS and Ubuntu. I have a full disk clone of my macOS boot disk. I think I'm going to wipe out the drive and re-partition/re-install macOS and see if that makes any difference. I think this disk just needs a fresh start. I've done too much crap with it over the years and things got really weird partition wise when I upgraded to Mojave on the macOS side. I feel like the way this disk has gotten is what is making Ubiquity throw a fit. Just a gut feeling, I'm not quite advanced enough to really debug this issue. But the next step would be where Ubiquity brings up the disk manager and stuff. I'm gonna wipe the disk completely and see what happens.

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TJ Draper (tjdraper) said : 		#8

Completely wiping and re-partitioning the disk seems to have done the trick. I was able to get Ubuntu installed on a partition and booting. I'm restoring my macOS disk clone to a partition now, then I should have a dual booting Frankenstein's Monster MacBook Pro.