Can't install Ubuntu on new iMac

[erginlee72]

I have Same problem in my imac
Ubuntu 10.10 or 11.04 have same problem
After grub ubuntu is opening, i can hear opening sound
but blank screen . .

radeon.modeset=0 nomodeset
do not work


ATI Radeon HD 4670:

Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 4670
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x9488
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-B8030H-114
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.403
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Connection Type: DisplayPort
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected

[MountainX]

I have Same problem in my imac
Ubuntu 10.10 or 11.04 have same problem

Sorry to hear that. I gave up on installing Ubuntu on my iMac. The limitations in support for the wireless Apple keyboard, the Magic Mouse and the Magic Trackpad convinced me that it would not be worth it even if I could eventually get Ubuntu installed.

Instead, I just built a custom PC with the goal of making it as fast and as quiet as my iMac. I largely succeeded, but I also gained great appreciation for the engineering quality and the design elegance of an iMac. It isn't possible to duplicate that quality at the same price IMO. But since I didn't mind spending more, I ended up with a great PC running Ubuntu and I still have a stock iMac (but with an SSD now) for those times when I need it.

[slow2anger]

This is how I overcame the black screen error. In my case, the root cause was that Ubuntu didn't have the appropriate graphics driver installed. But this is a chicken-and-egg issue because to install the driver, I'd typically need to first login to Ubuntu to do that, but then I can't because of the black screen error. Here's what I did to make it work.

By the way, I have a 27' iMac11,1 with quad-core i5 and ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics processor. But as long as your root cause is the same as mine you should be able to follow the steps below to make it work.

0. Plug in a working internet ethernet cable to your iMac.

1. Download and install the following Ubuntu mac release. Use something newer than 12.04 if a similar newer release is now available.
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/1...-amd64+mac.iso

2. Just install that Ubuntu as usual, following the on-screen step-by-step instructions.

3. After the installation, you will reboot the iMac. Right after the reboot, when the iMac just starts up with the sound, press and hold the alt key until you see the (wrongly labelled) Windows drive thingy. That's your newly installed Ubuntu. Click on it.

4. In the GRUB menu, choose the recovery mode.

5. You'll reach a menu with something like the following options. Choose "network". This will give you internet access.
Options: resume, clean, dpkg, failsafeX, fsck, grub, network, root, system-summary.

6. You should automatically be brought back to the menu again. Now choose "root". This will drop to root shell prompt.
Options: resume, clean, dpkg, failsafeX, fsck, grub, network, root, system-summary.

7. Now at the root shell, just to be sure that you have internet access, type "ping www.google.com" and observe that you're receiving bytes.

8. Run "jockey-text --list". This will show a list of drivers (both enabled and disabled). In my case, I had
xorg:fglrx_updates - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
xorg:fglrx - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)

9. Run "jockey-text --enabled=DRIVER", where DRIVER is the driver name. This will install/enable the graphics driver. In my case, it was "jockey-text --enabled=xorg:fglrx". (Don't enable xorg:fglrx_updates without first enabling xorg:fglrx)

10. Reboot (run "shutdown -r now") and you should be able to use the usual Ubuntu with GUI.

If this works for any of you, please reply the post. Thanks!

MountainX, Don't use Apple's wireless keyboard/mouse. Just use a regular (even non-Apple) USB keyboard/mouse. They should work right off the bat.