Ubuntu problems on Macbook

[Barter00]

So, yesterday I installed ubuntu on my Macbook, I removed all the partitions and made only one for Ubuntu, so I don't have OSX installed anymore.

I used it for a while and noticed the battery doesn't last as long as on OSX, so I tried some fixes from askubuntu.com and now it's kinda ****** up and I just wanted to reinstall ubuntu, or install OSX or lubuntu.

The problem is I can't access rEFIt anymore, if I create a bootable USB it just won't boot from it, and inserting the OSX install DVD does nothing, it won't boot from it. Sometimes grub bootmenu shows up but I can only boot ubuntu from there. I tried the command+option+O+F shortcut after turning the macbook on but it does nothing.

What can I do? I probably just want OSX back

[LuisGMarine]

Boot the Ubuntu LiveCD yet again, and run the partition editor. Then delete all the partition (including ubuntu) and reformat them to something like +HFS.

After that and you shutdown and run the OSX live cd, and press and hold the letter key c.

Hope this helps.

**Keep in mind that this will remove all operating systems on the computer. This is exactly what I do on my macbook pro when I decide to remove ubuntu and install OSX again for a bit. I can't gurantee it will work for you, so please try on your own risk and only do if you do not care that it will get rid of any working operating system.

[alexmurray]

Try booting up and holding down option / alt with the livecd and you should be able to select to boot from it.

[Barter00]

I tried creating a bootable USB again following this guide http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...tick-on-ubuntu
and it just boots the installed ubuntu when I restart, not the USB, even when holding option/alt or C.

[LuisGMarine]

I'm not sure what the problem could be ... I could be related to the USB install or not.

Is it possible that you can try a CD instead? How about crating a bootable rEFIt disc to re-install REFIt. However if this works I would read on what you would have to do to reinstall the proper things.

That's all I can think of for now, sorry :\

[trogdor1138]

OK, this is a long shot, especially if your MacBook is exactly as you've described, but this may work:

- Image your USB drive from your OS X install DVD (Clonezilla does a good job of copying drives exactly: http://clonezilla.org/)

- Insert both the OS X install DVD and the USB drive, then reboot until you get a GRUB menu

- At the menu, quickly press 'c' to bring up a GRUB console

- First, search for the OS X boot files: search --file --set=root /System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi

- The above command sets the first device with that file found as root. If it's found, then enter: chainloader (${root})/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi

- If the above doesn't work, you'll need to play around with trying to use 'chainloader' with manually-specified boot paths. For example: chainloader (hd1,1)/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi

- The boot files I've named are for recent versions of OS X. I don't know which version of the DVD you have, but older boot files may instead be at: /usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi

- If you need some help with GRUB, this part of the manual shows how to reference different devices and files: http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...#Device-syntax

- Once you're in to OS X setup, use Disk Utility to wipe the hard drive and run the verify and repair utilities

- Follow the OS X install process

This will, if it works, wipe your hard drive clean and set you up with a new install of OS X. GRUB can chain-load OS X from a different partition, but I've never explicitly tried loading the installer from GRUB off of a DVD or USB drive. Theoretically, it shouldn't be that different from simply selecting a Linux kernel in GRUB and booting that, but with Apple's system who knows.