Intel Macs with Hardy 'no bootable devices'

[cyberdork33]

After installing Ubuntu Hardy 8.04, you may get a 'no bootable devices' error after choosing Ubuntu with rEFIt., or no other operating systems show up at all when holding the Option key on startup. There is a bug in the installer that wipes out information about your partitions in the MBR. This data is required in order to boot what Apple calls "legacy" operating systems (meaning linux, windows).

WARNING: For those that have very complicated multi-boot systems (numerous installs of linux and/or windows). This may leave some of your installs unbootable. Please post in the forum to get specialized help with your setup.

If you Dual-Boot or Triple-Boot:



If you haven't already, boot into OSX and install rEFIt (http://refit.sourceforge.net/). If you do not get the refit menu when starting up your Mac, you may need to run a command in the OSX terminal to get it to work. See the manual install instructions (http://refit.sourceforge.net/doc/c1s1_install.html).
Once you reboot into the rEFIt menu, choose to start the partition tool. It will ask if you want to sync your partitions. Say yes. after rebooting, you should be able to select the Linux icon in rEFIt and it will boot into your Ubuntu install.
PLEASE add your comment to this bug report. This is a serious issue and should be addressed. It will not get attention unless it affects a lot of people: https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/222126

If rEFIt freezes on the Tux logo:

After all this, choosing to boot linux from refit can cause a freeze on the Tux logo. Many people have reported this problem to go away if they power down (completely, not reboot) and try to boot into Linux a few times. Please try this first.

If that doesn't work, reinstalling Grub seems to work. Directions are here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3303463&postcount=11
Although it indicates that you should install to the Ubuntu partition, you may very likely end up with two boot options if you do. Just install to the MBR unless you also have / want to install windows.

[Chaz_UK]

I've been trying for days to gat a dual Leopard/Ubuntu setup on my mini with that same error wand was just going to post a thread asking about what to do.

Thanks for posting this! Time to install.

[darcyb]

When I used refit's partition tool to sync the mbr, the behavior went from displaying the blank screen with white text "no bottable device" error, to sitting on a grey screen with the penguin image in the middle indefinitely.

When I did the partitioning with Bootcamp instead of gparted, the error message changed to a blank screen with white text "no operating system found." If I synced the mbr after that experience, I'd again get stuck on the indefinite grey screen with penguin.

[Hatfield]

My experience with a triple-boot malfunction may help some people out.
My triple boot is explained here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3512449#post3512449).Long story short,

I installed Boot Camp, repartitioned the new Boot Camped partition to accommodate Vista AND Ubuntu and installed both. When I held the Options key, I would have a choice between Mac and Windows. To get to Linux, I would press Windows which would put me into GRUB where I would have a choice between Ubuntu and Vista.
So Boot Camp Option Key=
Mac=Mac
Windows=Windows or Linux(GRUB)

To clean install 8.04, I deleted the Ubuntu 7.10 partition and its swap and installed 8.04. But then when I held the Option key at boot-up, it only gave me an option for Mac. Whoops.
So Boot Camp Option Key=
Mac=Mac and that's it

Enter rEFIt. Intalled rEFIt and after syncing it gave me a choice of Mac, Linux, and Windows. But when I choose Linux, it sticks on the gray tux page and stays there. When I choose Windows, it kicks me over to GRUB like before where I have the choice between Ubuntu and Vista.
So rEFIt menu =
Mac=Mac
Linux=nothing
Windows=Windows or Linux(GRUB)(like before)

Hope this helps.

And I'm getting ready to get rid of the Vista partition.
1)Zero out the hard drive.
2)Repartition with gParted LiveCD.
3)MacOS(10.4 no more boot camp)
4)Ubuntu 8.04
5)rEFIt
I'll update the progress.

[darcyb]

For me, with Bootcamp as the partition solution, I would get a Windows startup icon while holding down the option key too, but pre-resync I would be brought to a "no operating system found" error on a blank screen. After a resync, the windows launch icon sat in the middle of the screen and wouldn't do anything further.

[calizu15]

I had the same problem and the solution from the 1st post fixed it. Thanks!
Now if I can figure out the rest of it... =)

cheers

[cyberdork33]

For me, with Bootcamp as the partition solution, I would get a Windows startup icon while holding down the option key too, but pre-resync I would be brought to a "no operating system found" error on a blank screen. After a resync, the windows launch icon sat in the middle of the screen and wouldn't do anything further.
I still think you might have other problems with your partitions. If you are getting freezing with the default Mac chooser (by holding option) then this is likely a bug in Ubuntu, not refit... unfortunately, we still have not found the reason for it, nor a fix...

[cyberdork33]

I added info to fix the refit freeze issue!

[Navelpluis]

Had the same problem with kubuntu and Ubuntu-studio.
Did a fresh install with 7.10 and did an online update.
No problems,accept sound doesn't work yet.

[skiwithpete]

I also did a 7.10 install, and then upgraded to 8.10 to avoid the "no system disk" error.

Sound doesn't work.
Its very hot.
And I haven't figured out the touchpad configuration (right clicks, and middle clicks are a complete mystery).

[OCTOG3N]

Thanks, that solved my problem. I had to do both the initial fix and the fix for the tux icon. However, now, for some reason, in refit, in addition to boot OS X from HD and boot Linux from HD, there is a boot linux from Partition 3 option. This seems redundant to me.

[mabovo]

I supposed installer hadn't this kind of bug. After a clean install on my MacBook a message in a dark screen inform "no bootable device please insert a boot cd and press enter".

By now I guess my Mac looks like a win98 environment.

[cyberdork33]

I also did a 7.10 install, and then upgraded to 8.10 to avoid the "no system disk" error.

Sound doesn't work.
Its very hot.
And I haven't figured out the touchpad configuration (right clicks, and middle clicks are a complete mystery).
please create new threads for other issues.

[mabovo]

Unfortunately I had to format all partitions, because my /home (sda3) partition was placed before root system (sda4)

rEFIT considers the first linux partition as bootable and don't check if partition is the root system or home.

[cyberdork33]

Unfortunately I had to format all partitions, because my /home (sda3) partition was placed before root system (sda4)

rEFIT considers the first linux partition as bootable and don't check if partition is the root system or home.
that is dependent on where the boot flag is set in your partition table.

[hardawayd]

I have a bit of a similar problem. I have been using Gusty and beta Hardy on partitions 5 and 6 respectively on my MBP. I upgraded Gusty on 5 to Hardy and erased partition 6 and installed Xubuntu to it and installed Grub to partition 6. Now I get the gray screen with the penguin with the message 'no operating system found". I have resynched the tables using EFI partitioner but since I am not using the MBR since my partions are in 5 and 6 i am not sure what to do to get Grub to come up again. Any ideas?

[nourani]

No problem upgrading from 7.10 to 8.04. But clean install of 8.04 from CD ruins the MBR table for the Linux partition. As suggested by cyberdork33, you can fix this by running the partition tool, resyncing and choosing to save this to the MBR table. The suggested MBR table should look something like this:

# A Start LBA End LBA Type
1 1 409639 ee EFI Protective
2 409640 245514279 af Mac OS X HFS+
3 * 245776424 307693959 83 Linux
4 307956111 312581111 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Cheers & good luck

[feddi]

I also did a 7.10 install, and then upgraded to 8.10 to avoid the "no system disk" error.

Sound doesn't work.
Its very hot.
And I haven't figured out the touchpad configuration (right clicks, and middle clicks are a complete mystery).

I too have upgraded from 7.10 and it boots fine except that I can't log in as simple user, I can log in in GNOME mode and others from the options but if I try to log in with my user name it just freezes at the orange screen....help anyone? thanks...:confused:

[mezerik]

I had this problem, i had to keep using my cd to boot up then it worked fine without the cd once booted.

After carrying out the instructions in the first post on here it boots up fine now.

[alicebtoklas]

Thanks, that solved my problem. I had to do both the initial fix and the fix for the tux icon. However, now, for some reason, in refit, in addition to boot OS X from HD and boot Linux from HD, there is a boot linux from Partition 3 option. This seems redundant to me.

The same for me: I fixed the two problems with the solutions proposed in the first post, and now I have to choose between "Linux from HD" and "Linux from partition 3". Which one should I boot from? Does that mean that there still is a problem? If yes, is there a way to fix it?
Thanks for your help.

[cyberdork33]

For those getting the two Linux Icon issue, it is because there are two instances of Grub installed, one in the MBR and one on the Ubuntu partition. you should remove the one from the MBR:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=811240

It really shouldn't effect anything other than showing two icons.

[AmbroseBSOD]

Solves my problem!

Thanks for the heads up

[Ethos07]

Thanks for the info. I used the first thread and it fixed mine MB.

The first time I tried to go to Ubuntu it hung on the Penguin but has been good since.
I did a combination of manual and automatic install of refit. I had to run the enable.sh in a terminal before I saw it of startup.

All is good now. Thanks again. Now for wireless...

[kanpachi]

what do i do if i don't want to dual boot ubuntu and mac os x?
i want ubuntu to be the ONLY OS on mac mini, but it won't boot after installation
i keep getting the ? sign

[cyberdork33]

what do i do if i don't want to dual boot ubuntu and mac os x?
i want ubuntu to be the ONLY OS on mac mini, but it won't boot after installation
i keep getting the ? sign
Use boot camp to resize your osx partition, then boot the Ubuntu LiveCD, and delete the fat32 partition. start the installer and choose to install to the free space. after you have configured the install, you will be given a summary of what will be done to your system... there is a button in the corner of the window that says advanced, tell it to install grub to the Ubuntu Root partition (which will be shown in the summary). Then you can follow the fix in this thread.

IDK why you are having issues with your mini. Is it an Intel Mini or PPC?

[kanpachi]

it's an intel mac mini
plus is there any solution that doesn't include mac os x?
i don't want mac os x on my mac mini AT ALL

[cyberdork33]

it's an intel mac mini
plus is there any solution that doesn't include mac os x?
i don't want mac os x on my mac mini AT ALL
There is nothing special needed to install Ubuntu on your Mac Mini. Just put in the disc and boot it up. In the installer, tell it to use the entire drive.

[egeier]

I’m now getting the Windows Boot Manager screen about winload.exe...here’s the story:

I have a Mac Mini with Leopard + Vista + Ubuntu

I had Leopard and Vista working fine, but I installed Ubuntu and then got “No bootable device error” when trying to access both Vista and Ubuntu from the rEFIt screen. I then synced my partitions using the rEFIt tool; this got rid of the no bootable device error and let me boot into Ubuntu but now when I access Windows, the Windows Boot Manager screen comes up and says Windows Failed to start... winload.exe...missing or corrupt. This happens after I choose Windows from the screen where I can choose variants of Ubuntu or Windows.

I reinstalled grub and it didn’t help.

Please help, thanks! - Eric

[cyberdork33]

I reinstalled grub and it didn’t help.
Yea grub is not the culprit here. It does not touch your windows files. You might try booting from the windows disc into recovery mode and using the fixmbr command.

[Naturally]

Hi,

I need some help.

I am trying to tripple boot OSX, XP, and Ubuntu 8.04 on my MacBook bought a couple of months ago. I upgraded the hard disk to a WD 320 GB, otherwise all is as designed.

After installing OSX, I used boot camp and installed windows XP SP2 to a 220 GB partition. That got both windows and OSX working fine.

I then created a 20 GB partition using OSX disk partition. This 20 GB was from the OSX partition. I then installed reFIt and installed ubuntu 8.04. GRUB was loaded into the samd disk as ubuntu, in my case disk 03.

Currently, I get the reFIt menu with an OSX icon, a linux icon, and a windows icon.

OSX and ubuntu work fine.

When I select windows, I get the XP screen and then I get a blue screen that flashes very fast (I cannot read what it displays) and the computer reboots. I tried to go into windows again and I get the option for safe mode which also fails.

I tried botting into the XP installation CD and using FIXMBR. The command works well with no error, however, windows still does not boot and causes the computer to reboot.

Any idea? I have looked all over and am really stuck.

[Naturally]

Never mind. Just solved it, OS X, Ubuntu, and XP professional work fine together now.

I will record what I did, since maybe this will help someone having this problem in the future.


As stated above, I used FIXMBR from windows XP CD and this did not solve the problem.

I then tried to synchronise the partitions through rEFIt partition tool. That reported that all Boot tables were synchronised and that there was no need to do anything.

However, the rEFIt partition tool, showed me that windows is installed in partition 4.

I then checked the windows boot.ini to see what partition it is trying to load from. I found that boot.ini is trying to boot from partition 3 instead of 4. So, I changed the two lines that are referring to partition 3 to point at partition 4 instead.

This fixed everything. All work fine now. I can boot from all of them.

Sorry for the false alarm.

[ohyeah12321]

Okay, I seem to be running into obstacle after obstacle trying to get Ubuntu to work. First, I got it so that it freezes when selecting Ubuntu through rEFIt (grey screen, tux logo freeze). I followed the steps in the guide for how to get around that, and that is where my trouble lies. Instead of ending up with Ubuntu working, I now have 2 boot logos for Ubuntu (boot from HD and boot from partition 3) and both of them bring me to a command prompt screen and nothing else. Sorry for the broad question, but where do you think I went wrong and how do I fix it? Please forgive me for being a total noob, but I made my journey into the world of Ubuntu last night.

[cyberdork33]

Okay, I seem to be running into obstacle after obstacle trying to get Ubuntu to work. First, I got it so that it freezes when selecting Ubuntu through rEFIt (grey screen, tux logo freeze). I followed the steps in the guide for how to get around that, and that is where my trouble lies. Instead of ending up with Ubuntu working, I now have 2 boot logos for Ubuntu (boot from HD and boot from partition 3) and both of them bring me to a command prompt screen and nothing else. Sorry for the broad question, but where do you think I went wrong and how do I fix it? Please forgive me for being a total noob, but I made my journey into the world of Ubuntu last night.Answer is in the original thread:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=854995

[iPodAddict181]

Thank you so much, I was about to start a new thread on this. I kept trying to put Ubuntu on my Mac but it kept giving me that message. Now I will finally be able to put Ubuntu on my Mac, I subscribed to this thread too, and I also hope it stays alive.

[MstrPBK]

I heard of Ubuntu this morning as a bridge OS for Windows environments (am I correct on this understanding). Has the discussion on this thread actually agreed on a solution?

I have no interest in loading Vista on my innocent Mac Mini; that in itself seems to be to much punishment for it.

Signed: Considering the bridge.
Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN

[cyberdork33]

I heard of Ubuntu this morning as a bridge OS for Windows environments (am I correct on this understanding). Has the discussion on this thread actually agreed on a solution?

I have no interest in loading Vista on my innocent Mac Mini; that in itself seems to be to much punishment for it.

Signed: Considering the bridge.
Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN
Um, you might have to explain what you mean, and maybe start a new thread as I don't think what you are asking has anything to do with this thread.

[Pederm]

I had Leopard and Vista working fine, but I installed Ubuntu and then got “No bootable device error” when trying to access both Vista and Ubuntu from the rEFIt screen. I then synced my partitions using the rEFIt tool; this got rid of the no bootable device error and let me boot into Ubuntu but now when I access Windows, the Windows Boot Manager screen comes up and says Windows Failed to start... winload.exe...missing or corrupt. This happens after I choose Windows from the screen where I can choose variants of Ubuntu or Windows.

Please help, thanks! - Eric

I have the exact similar problem with XP in stead of Vista. XP says that "<windows root>\system32\hal.dll" is missing.

[cyberdork33]

I have the exact similar problem with XP in stead of Vista. XP says that "<windows root>\system32\hal.dll" is missing.
You usually get this error because the partitions have changed on the disk after you have installed Windows. There is really no "fix" other than to try reinstalling. This has been happening to people for far longer than Hardy or even Gutsy has been out.

Some say this works, but nobody has had much luck with it recently:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=327386

[mac-wilson]

I'm getting those two problems mentioned in the first post of this topic. My external HD has 3 partitions: MacOS backup, Linux, Linux swap.

If I sync paritions will all of the information inside of each seperate partition stay undamaged? I don't want to have to re-backup my MacOS all over again.

[cyberdork33]

I'm getting those two problems mentioned in the first post of this topic. My external HD has 3 partitions: MacOS backup, Linux, Linux swap.

If I sync paritions will all of the information inside of each seperate partition stay undamaged? I don't want to have to re-backup my MacOS all over again.
Unfortunately, refit will only sync the partitions on your primary hard drive although I think that the gptsync command can be installed in Ubuntu and can sync partitions elsewhere.

You will not be able to boot your Ubuntu install off the external hard drive though still. There are many threads about this being an issue including a very long thread linked in the FAQ.

[mac-wilson]

I looked at those topics earlier. It seems that people are able to boot off of a USB external HD. My I can switch to a USB or eSATA connector if I wanted.

Right now I think my best choice would be to make my External HD for backing up ALL of my MacOS.

Then, I think I'll partition 80 GB of free space in the Internal HD, and set it as "Free Space." So when I get to the partition chooser of the Ubuntu Install, I select Largest Continuous Free Space. Largest Continuous Free Space applies to a partition that has NOTHING on it except space, correct? So I don't run the risk of having it install on my MacOS partition, because there is over 80 GB free there, even AFTER I partiton it?

So if I select Largest Continuous Free Space and let it do an automatic install, Ubuntu will set up a swap for me.

Then when it's done and I reboot, I reboot into rEFIt and select the Legacy (or Linux) icon? This is the part that got me confused. Do I select the Linux icon or the BootCamp Windows looking icon labled Legacy OS? I don't have any Windows softeware on my computer.

[cyberdork33]

I looked at those topics earlier. It seems that people are able to boot off of a USB external HD. My I can switch to a USB or eSATA connector if I wanted.No, it is the opposite. You cannot boot a legacy OS from an external hard drive, USB or Firewire. (You can if you create a boot partition on your internal drive, but that is still technically booting from the internal.)

Right now I think my best choice would be to make my External HD for backing up ALL of my MacOS.

Then, I think I'll partition 80 GB of free space in the Internal HD, and set it as "Free Space." So when I get to the partition chooser of the Ubuntu Install, I select Largest Continuous Free Space. Largest Continuous Free Space applies to a partition that has NOTHING on it except space, correct? So I don't run the risk of having it install on my MacOS partition, because there is over 80 GB free there, even AFTER I partiton it?Yes you are correct. By 'free space' it means space that has no partition on it, not 'space that has no files'. I find that the easiest way to do this is to use bootcamp to resize your OSX partition and create a Windows FAT32 partition. Then you start the Ubuntu LiveCD and run the partition editor (gparted) and delete the FAT32 partition (leaving free space). Then start the Ubuntu installer and choose to install to the largest free space.

So if I select Largest Continuous Free Space and let it do an automatic install, Ubuntu will set up a swap for me.correct

Then when it's done and I reboot, I reboot into rEFIt and select the Legacy (or Linux) icon? This is the part that got me confused. Do I select the Linux icon or the BootCamp Windows looking icon labled Legacy OS? I don't have any Windows softeware on my computer.You shouldn't have a windows-looking icon after you install Ubuntu. BUT, you will probably need to sync your partition tables in rEFIt first before Ubuntu will bootup anyway because of a bug in the Ubuntu installer. The first post of this thread shows specific directions for fixing that problem.