Ubuntu
ubiquity package

[Macbook] Boot disk will not install.

Asked by TC Coleman

I may be trying the impossible here. If so let me know.

Back story:
I'm running a Macbook 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo. A few months ago the hard drive fried so I upgraded to a 500GB seagate. I have lost the OS X install disks since buying the computer over 4 years ago. So right now I have a laptop with no OS and an unformatted hard drive.

Question:
Is it even possible to boot and install Linux on a computer with no OS and a hard drive that hasn't been formatted?

I have downloaded and mounted Ubuntu 10.04 onto a CD and used the apple boot key (C) to boot from the CD ROM. Instead of going to an install screen it just runs the OS (asking for a user name and password 50% of the time). When I try and install from the desktop (system > admin > install) nothing happens. I tried formatting my drive using the terminal but it says permission denied. And again nothing happens when I try to open Gparted.

Any help will be appreciated.

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TC Coleman
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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Sure, the Ubuntu CD is bootable.
Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
Did you check the CD for defects once booted to?
Did you burn the CD as slowly as possible?

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#2

To know how to check MD5, go to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuHashes.
You are able to boot from CD, so you have an Intel Mac.
I presume you use 10.04.1.
Boot on CD-ROM, choose "Try but don't install" and then System->Administration->Gparted, and check disk.
You must be able to remove all partitions.
Can you see if partition table is a DOS one or an EDI one ? Some MAC uses a BIOS boot different from DOS (DOS boot is used by DOS, XP, Vista, Ubuntu ...). If you have a EFI BIOS, you will be able to install, but it will be a little more complicated.

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TC Coleman (boycotttc) said : 		#3

Thanks, I'll try all this tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Like I said it's a brand new hard drive so there are no partitions on it.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

Doesn't matter if it has no partitions. The system doesn't even needto have a drive in it at all and the liveCD will still boot.

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TC Coleman (boycotttc) said : 		#5

I know but he said to be sure I removed all partitions.

Just ran an MD5 and it checks out. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to buy some new CDs.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#6

The issue is not knowing if you removed partition but knowing if you have EFI or DOS partition table. By reading some thread, it seems this question of EFI/DOS partition is an important one, and that all Mac don't have same BIOS.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#7

I have found this link https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MactelSupportTeam/AppleIntelInstallation
Since a week, there is a lot of people in this forum trying to install Ubuntu on Apple computers.
You have a look at looking at questions about packets "grub" and "ubiquity"

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TC Coleman (boycotttc) said : 		#8

Intel Macs use an EFI with GPT partition table.

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TC Coleman (boycotttc) said : 		#9

Thanks guys. Works great.