installing linux on Ibook g4

[socomhacker239]

i have a ibook g4 and im want to put linux ubuntu on it
i have a problem
my ibook will boot halfways i can only see a white screen with the apple and a loading sighn after that it goes to a blue screen and freezes so can i install linux as my full os an not dual boot also since it will only boot up that far an i can not get into it at all can i still install linux?
oh yea the reason why it dosent boot up all the way is my fault not the hard drives so the hard drive is fully functional and i dont have the os lepord cd
thats in advance

[pxwpxw]

Do you have any Macos CD or DVD?

[socomhacker239]

i dont have the os lepord cd
thats for even replying i cant belive how many people are on this site and not one can take their time to help except pxwpxw

[stream303]

There's plenty of help, it may be just that we don't know where to start with what you have provided us. And as a general rule, ppc'ers need all the friends they can get. :)

What version of Ubuntu are you trying to install? Is it the live-cd, or the alternate and which version? I recommend the alternate burned at a very slow speed.

Depending on what version of Ubuntu you are installing there may be more special things you have to do.

Be sure to take a gander at these wikis:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ
and
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCKnownIssues

To see what you are getting into. Hopefully the install will be easy, but sometimes it just isn't.

By telling us what you have tried when things go wrong, everyone here will be better able to assist you.

[tiresia]

I have read yesterday your post, but I couldn't understand very well, what your problem is. Anyway, if I understand your question, you do not need MacOS to install Linux. Also you can install just Linux (Ubuntu or what else)

[mkvnmtr]

If I understand correctly you have a working G4 Ibook that you have messed up your mac system. You are asking if you can install Ubuntu. Yes you can. I am on a G4 I book and it is rather simple to do a 8.04 install. Burn or order the disk. I use the live disk but many people recomend the alt. disk. On my machine I found the alt. disk took a lot a lot longer to install. When you go to boot the disk for the first time restart with the c key held down. Don't let up on the key until a linux icon comes up on the screen. Then click on the icon for linux and the to boot Ubuntu. As it begins to boot press the tab key. You should see a number or options listed. I believe "live video=ofonly no splash is the one I used. You will need to type this in. You will see the output of your typing on the bottom of the page. Then press enter. At this point it should boot. It will take some time because it is reading the disk. After that the install is just following directions. Any problem you can post back here to ask.

[socomhacker239]

If I understand correctly you have a working G4 Ibook that you have messed up your mac system. You are asking if you can install Ubuntu. Yes you can. I am on a G4 I book and it is rather simple to do a 8.04 install. Burn or order the disk. I use the live disk but many people recomend the alt. disk. On my machine I found the alt. disk took a lot a lot longer to install. When you go to boot the disk for the first time restart with the c key held down. Don't let up on the key until a linux icon comes up on the screen. Then click on the icon for linux and the to boot Ubuntu. As it begins to boot press the tab key. You should see a number or options listed. I believe "live video=ofonly no splash is the one I used. You will need to type this in. You will see the output of your typing on the bottom of the page. Then press enter. At this point it should boot. It will take some time because it is reading the disk. After that the install is just following directions. Any problem you can post back here to ask.
ok thanks for the replys i was impatient sorry :)
well i tried what u said and it didnt work i think its because i had ubuntu 8.10 so ima go download 8.04 also i cant get into the os because im locked out so it wont boot past there and i cant change no settings at all

EDIT:the ubuntu im downloading says i need 384 mb of ram to install i only have 256mb will there be any problems or will it just lag? thanks

[mkvnmtr]

It will be easier to install from the alt. install disk. It will use less ram. Look into getting more ram. On your Ibook it is cheap and easy to install. The same thing will probably happen when you try to boot. You will need to hit the tab key. You should be able to install with 256MB but it might be slower. If you are locked out of the Mac OS just select the option to install on the whole disk and you will have a laptop using pure Ubuntu.

[socomhacker239]

its not working it wont boot,i hold down c then i turn it on an hold it an the laptop boots like normal,then i tried to hold command option delete and shift but still nuthing an i have burned diffrent cds at the slowest speed an the highest speed i tried to use diffrent brands of cds an i tried to burn it from a diffrent computer still nuthin

[mkvnmtr]

Sounds like the disk is not burned as an image but just copied. If you double click on the disk icon on another computer what do you see? If you see just one ISO file you have not burned it as an image. Remember to hold down the key until the Linux icon comes up. You should hear the disk working. If you need to reburn an image I don't think I can lead you through it. I have done it many times on Mac and Ubuntu but I don't think I can give good instructions. Best to look for a tutorial. It should not be hard to get your disk to boot. Then you will need to come back to ask how to get to the desktop. It is simple and I will be watching for your posts.

[socomhacker239]

i think its just the laptop thanks anyways. when i put the disk in another computer it boots up.

[mkvnmtr]

Yes if it boots on another system the disk is probably good. Don't give up. If you can't find Mac disks to reinstall I think there is a way to get to what is like the bios for Mac to let you boot from the disk. I don't know how to do it but maybe somebody reading this thread can give you some help. Or maybe work with Google. It might be called recovery mode or something like that. There will be some keys to press during boot up. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[itdoesnot]

i know it's an old post, but i'm about to install on an ibook g4 too. and i think the op's problem might have been downloading the wrong version (eg x86 instead of PPC).

for now i'm going to run live, and try to get all the hardware (mainly the wi-fi) working
it's not my machine, but i'm trying to convert a friend to ubuntu and showing her
that it all works (better) than garbage os x i think will convince her

[paulodelgado]

I'm having a similar problem but I get a little further: The iBook boots up from the CD and I'm prompted to continue installing Ubuntu, so I hit enter and I get a white screen, then it turns black and... that's it... nothing else happens. For a moment it seems like the CD is being read but nothing happens.

Any ideas?

EDIT: Found the solution here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCKnownIssues
in the section "Live CD boot hangs" ... just had to run a different kernel.

[pumpkinn]

I am having the exact same situation with my ibook G4. socomhacker239 - What you have explained is what iam going through. My last attempt was as well, taking the Ubuntu cd i burned to install on my mac and trying it on a different pc....it booted up the pc. I just cant get my mac to boot up with the Ubuntu cd to install.......
Im waiting for you to post again.....

[linuxopjemac]

let me give you a simple advise: try the netinstall of Debian Lenny PPC. It's much easier for people who install on Macs the first time.

http://www.debian.org/releases/lenny/debian-installer/

or you read the working installation manuals for ppc here:
http://mac.linux.be/forum/2

[pumpkinn]

Okay, i will get on this asap, and thanks for your help. I will be back shortly with an update on my progress lol
thanks again

[linuxopjemac]

Pumpkin, don't make that noob mistake to try to boot a PPC based Mac with an Intel based CD.....;)

[pumpkinn]

Okay, i had to send my daughter off to school, so now i have time to get at this.... thanks again for tips, and advice.

[pumpkinn]

I would like to thank linuxopjemac, for the advice! So far so good, i have started the partition format process, and no problems yet ty again

[nibblet5109]

could someone post a link to the download for an acceptable version of linux for the G4? Would be much appreciated. Thanks

Nib

[velmont]

could someone post a link to the download for an acceptable version of linux for the G4? Would be much appreciated.

I'm trying this one now:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/lucid/release/ubuntu-10.04-desktop-powerpc.iso

I have an iBook G4.