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Thread: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Beans
    6

    Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    Hi,

    I recently got myself a cheap second hand mac mini, only for watching movies on my TV, but the Mac OSX was pretty crap (10.3) and I can't upgrade to 10.5 because I only have a HD image, and I cant wipe the HD without the origional MacMini CD, which I don't have.

    So I was just going to install Ubuntu onto it. I can't boot into OSX, no idea whats wrong.

    Is there a way to boot into ubuntu setup from CD?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    USA
    Beans
    102
    Distro
    Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    Yes, insert the CD and hold "option" on your keyboard.

    tested on mid-2011 Macbook air, but it should work.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Beans
    8,627
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    Usually holding down the 'c' key while it starts up should do the job. Were you able to get a PPC mini?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Beans
    6

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    It is a PPC G4 Mac Mini.

    And what a pain I'm having with it.

    I have a wireless logitech keyboard, so I am struggling to get into any boot options/boot from CD with that keyboard on a cold boot.

    This is something I posted on a mac forum describing the problem.

    Thats my problem atm. I have the PPC latest release on CD. Burnt the ISO direct to disc, but I can't get it to boot.

    I'm using a logitech wireless keyboard and dont have a wired USB keyboard to hand. Not sure what to press to have it cold boot from CD?

    Would a Live CD respond differently?

    Also - Problems with OSX now, since I've put the CD in all I get is rapid flashing white text on black background along the lines of:

    lyld: -sh can't open library: /usr/lib/libcurses.5.4.dylib - Some error text and:
    init:single user shell terminated, restarting

    Just hangs on that

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Beans
    8,627
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    I think you might need to have a wired keyboard for this, at least at the start.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Beans
    6

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    Quote Originally Posted by Lars Noodén View Post
    I think you might need to have a wired keyboard for this, at least at the start.
    My brother is being a pal, and bringing a wired USB keyboard down to me shortly. It's not a mac keyboard tho, should this effect it?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Beans
    8,627
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    It should be fine with a non-Mac keyboard, I use one all the time. I do notice that it is not helpful to hold down the C key too long. If I do so, then the keyboard is unresponsive on the first screen of the CD/DVD.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Beans
    6

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    I'm trying with C held down, and it just keeps spitting the disc back out at me, on a wired keyboard now.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Beans
    8,627
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    If the mouse button (left) is held down, that would eject the disc, too. Do you have the powerpc version of Ubuntu?

    http://torrent.ubuntu.com:6969/file?...n%08%C6I%15%D8

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Beans
    6

    Re: Mac Mini and Ubuntu

    Quote Originally Posted by Lars Noodén View Post
    If the mouse button (left) is held down, that would eject the disc, too. Do you have the powerpc version of Ubuntu?

    http://torrent.ubuntu.com:6969/file?...n%08%C6I%15%D8
    ubuntu-12.04-desktop-powerpc.iso

    Wasn't a mouse plugged in just now.


    The only thing I can get the mac to respond to is the 'alt' menu, which shows the HDD with OSX installed?

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