Ubuntu on PPC Mac - So Frustrated!

[Kemara]

OK. First I want to say I have absolutely no experience with Linux, but I do have an EEE PC netbook with Linux being delivered on Monday. So, while waiting for it, I thought I would try out some version of Linux on my Emac PPC...just from a disc, not as an install.

I downloaded the Live CD "Dapper" version for PPC and burned the .iso to a disc using the Disc Utility program that came with my Mac. When I double-click on the disk it shows several files and folders, so I guess it worked. The problem I'm having is that I can't get my Emac to boot from a disk at all. I've tried holding down "option" and "C" but it only shows the OSX option. I found some instructions on how to get to Open Firmware on startup and got it to do that, but I'm not sure where to go from there.

I've actually tried Live CD downloads of other Linux versions (I think Puppy was one) thinking the Ubuntu one was messed up for some reason. Same result.

I've tried putting the Dapper disk in my iMac G4 and booting from the disc. I'm using a Firewire external CD/DVD read/write drive with the Emac so I thought maybe that was causing problems. It still didn't work...the iMac won't boot from the disc either.

Both the desktop and notebook read and write other CDs and DVDs just fine, so I don't think the drives are the problem. I thought about using a USB drive, but if the computers won't boot from a disc, I doubt that would work either. Can someone please help?

[jml]

Sounds like you may have a faulty disc. I would recommend that you burn a disc at less than your highest speed. This often makes for a more reliable copy. You may also want to try with a more recent version of Ubuntu for the PPC. The newer versions seem to have better hardware support. Here is the most recent link I could find for your download:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=427714

Its the top post on this page of the thread.

Good luck.

Joe

[snowpine]

Ubuntu is not particularly well-known for its power pc support, and the version you tried (6.06) is an old version that's no longer supported. Why not try Debian (Ubuntu's "parent" distro, with excellent ppc support) or better yet, wait for your EEE that has everything pre-installed and ready to go... :)

[Kemara]

Thanks for the advice! My EEE did arrive yesterday....a 900 with 4GB and Linux. Within an hour I had Full Desktop available and had updated most of the out-of-the-box software. I think I'm really going to love it once I get used to typing on the tiny keyboard.

This weekend I will try what you've suggested...another version of Linux for my PPC and burning the disc at a lower speed. It's become a challenge to make this work even if I stay with OSX. I'll let you know how it goes. Further suggestions are welcome!

[cfrivas]

I've done it and felt really good about myself for slowly figuring it out with countless reboots. Keep trying! Now if could just master the art of terminal langauge

[tgalati4]

Older mac CD-ROM drives can only read 650 MB CD-R's. They have problems with 700 MB CD-R's. Something about the reading head not moving far enough to the edge to properly read a 700 MB disk. Last time I checked, Dapper was 680 MB.

[pismo]

OK. First I want to say I have absolutely no experience with Linux, but I do have an EEE PC netbook with Linux being delivered on Monday. So, while waiting for it, I thought I would try out some version of Linux on my Emac PPC...just from a disc, not as an install.

I downloaded the Live CD "Dapper" version for PPC and burned the .iso to a disc using the Disc Utility program that came with my Mac. When I double-click on the disk it shows several files and folders, so I guess it worked. The problem I'm having is that I can't get my Emac to boot from a disk at all. I've tried holding down "option" and "C" but it only shows the OSX option. I found some instructions on how to get to Open Firmware on startup and got it to do that, but I'm not sure where to go from there.
I've actually tried Live CD downloads of other Linux versions (I think Puppy was one) thinking the Ubuntu one was messed up for some reason. Same result.

I've tried putting the Dapper disk in my iMac G4 and booting from the disc. I'm using a Firewire external CD/DVD read/write drive with the Emac so I thought maybe that was causing problems. It still didn't work...the iMac won't boot from the disc either.

Both the desktop and notebook read and write other CDs and DVDs just fine, so I don't think the drives are the problem. I thought about using a USB drive, but if the computers won't boot from a disc, I doubt that would work either. Can someone please help?
Welcome to linux
You should download the latests version jaunty 9.04 i have just run the live session on my Emac it is a 1.25 MHz but it will run on lower specs see if you can get a mate to burn it on a Pc for you i always burn linux disks on a Pc as some times Toast will cause Probs, hope this will help you

[cptfx]

Older mac CD-ROM drives can only read 650 MB CD-R's. They have problems with 700 MB CD-R's. Something about the reading head not moving far enough to the edge to properly read a 700 MB disk. Last time I checked, Dapper was 680 MB.


Note that older macs don't use proprietary cd drives interfaces (at least my 700MHz G3 Dual USB ibook didn't->aside: Apple needs to use model #s). The drive wasn't working on the aforementioned system so I pulled the drive out of my compaq laptop and it worked like a charm. Now taking apart a mac is indeed a chore. I'm sure that there are more elegant solutions, but I think it's fun to take stuff apart.