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Harrison Lucas
From: UK

None of the GRUB launch options are working for me. It just hangs at

'Booting a command list

__'

No idea what to do. I've been searching for days and I just cannot get any distro of linux to run. It's not the usb stick either

UTC 2024|10|19 19:07:24 (@)

Bob
From: Argentina

Jochen Rothermel:

Did you fix the problem? I have across the same issue.

UTC 2024|07|05 06:53:59 (@)

Jochen Rothermel
From: Germany

I have the seem to have the same issue as Alexander Grau.

"Ubuntu 18.04 installation on old MacBook 2006 from USB worked fine. However, after installation, I had to remove the EFI32 GRUB files written by the installer. Reason: my Mac wanted only to boot the kernel using the EFI32 GRUB file given in the article above (GRUB 2.02beta2). So, if your Mac does not boot the kernel you might have to fix this! :-)"

Installation of Lubuntu 22.04 from USB works fine, but I get a "black screen" when starting from hard disk. In which directory is the EFI32 GRUB file on my harddrive, so I can remove it?

Do I have to replace it, with another file?

Thx for an answer to my e-mail.

UTC 2024|04|15 09:20:30 (@)

Alexander Grau
From: Germany

Ubuntu 18.04 installation on old MacBook 2006 from USB worked fine. However, after installation, I had to remove the EFI32 GRUB files written by the installer. Reason: my Mac wanted only to boot the kernel using the EFI32 GRUB file given in the article above (GRUB 2.02beta2). So, if your Mac does not boot the kernel you might have to fix this! :-)

UTC 2024|01|27 20:36:41 (@)

Gregor
From: Canada

I _suspect_ but haven't tried (my install is working now and I've spent too long * * * around with it to feel like breaking it again to try things!) that the important part is formatting the drive as one single MBR partition. I think without an EFI partition and a MBR table, the installer is forced to install grub in bios mode.

UTC 2023|11|30 21:22:57 (@)

Gregor
From: Canada

SO! What ended up working for me was:

- pull the boot drive from the mac pro, stick it in a pc
- set the pc to boot in bios (not efi) (not sure if actually required)
- boot the ubuntu server install usb key
- use the terminal to set the boot drive to msdos partition style (as above, fdisk /dev/sda, o, w)
- choose "custom storage layout" in the installer
- make ONE partition on the boot drive, do NOT make an EFI partition
- when it's installing, you should see the installer say something about "grub-pc" - that's for bios, and will boot in the MacPro, if it says anything about grub-efi-anything it's not working
- reboot after installation TO THE USB KEY AGAIN
- in the terminal, make the boot drive bootable (fdisk /dev/sda, a, w)
- put the boot drive back in the Mac Pro - you're in business

UTC 2023|11|30 21:15:01 (@)

Gregor
From: Canada

Thanks for this guide - works great to get the Ubuntu Server 22 installer running, but at the lastish step of the install, where it tries and fails to install grub resulting in an unbootable installation.

This is on a Mac Pro 1,1.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Tried different partition schemes, MBR, GPT, LVM, and Ubuntu Server 20, Ubuntu Desktop 18, with and without the Matt Gadient +mac fix.

UTC 2023|11|29 19:39:40 (@)

HenkG
From: Netherlands

Private post. Watch in Admin mode.

UTC 2023|09|16 18:47:55 (@)

Frank F
From: London

Yay!! Got Ubuntu Mate running from the USB stick made using your instructions Stefan. Well done for the working advice.
What nearly fooled me is that I had to choose "safe graphics mode" or I just got an apparently dead black screen. The clue was that the LED on the USB stick blinked when I touched the keyboard so obviously something was happening.
Any reason do you think why I should not do a full install onto another USB stick and have a pluggable OS?

UTC 2023|08|04 14:51:35 (@)

Frank F
From: London

Close, but no cigar. Trying to USB install Mint 20 on a late 2006 white iMac. I know it can be done using a DVD, but then Linux problems arose and the DVD drive has now clapped out. It recognises the USB stick and starts to boot, but then something about "initramfs unpacking decode failed". Bum!
Spect I'll get there eventually, but I'm all ears if anyone has any ideas?
Hope this thread is still live, and thanks for the help.

Admin reply: Hi Frank,
I would try using the newest Mint. As I figured out even a 64 bit distro works. Finally I succeeded installing it. Unfortunately I didn‘t have the time documenting it. If Mint doesn’t work try another dist. Maybe your stick has a read fault. You see: just guessing!

UTC 2023|07|21 18:44:06 (@)