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chonald
March 25th, 2010, 11:26 PM
I'm trying to install Ubuntu on an old iMac that is running Mac OS X 10.2.8.

I've tried holding down "c", holding down "option", and nothing works.

Would anyone know any tips on how to get Ubuntu to run on this computer? I happened to find it next to a dumpster... it works! It's just very old and has little memory.

What do you think?

zvacet
March 26th, 2010, 01:05 AM
If it is old then probably itīs PPC so you will need to download iso for that architecture.You can find it here. (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads)You will find more info about installing Ubuntu on Mac here. (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328)

chonald
March 26th, 2010, 02:26 AM
Okay. I'll look around.

I did just download the PowerPC version of 9.10... but it is over 700MB, it won't fit on a CD-R. The iMac doesn't have a DVD-ROM. Hmmm...

Is there anyway I can somehow put the disc image on the iMac's desktop and install from there?

chonald
March 26th, 2010, 04:15 AM
This just seems like a lost cause.

I hold "option" down, and get to a different screen. But this screen asks for some sort of password. I don't know the password.

Wiebelhaus
March 26th, 2010, 04:17 AM
If it is old then probably itīs PPC so you will need to download iso for that architecture.You can find it here. (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads)You will find more info about installing Ubuntu on Mac here. (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328)

Just to reiterate this good advice.

chonald
March 26th, 2010, 04:31 AM
If I were trying to boot from a burned disc image that was the wrong format (not ppc) the computer wouldn't even attempt to boot from this disc?

I did download a ppc friendly 9.10, but the file is too large for a CD-R.

This point makes me stuck.

I also tried the Yaboo commands, but the terminal doesn't recognize them.

zvacet
March 26th, 2010, 12:15 PM
Download ubuntu-9.10-alternate-powerpc.iso from here. (http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/9.10/release/)You will also find MD5SUMS on that page.

chonald
March 27th, 2010, 10:41 PM
zvacet, thank you.

i was finally able to get the computer to boot from disc. there was a firmware password that i didn't know, this was keeping me from booting from cd. i reset the firmware by taking out the ram and booting up holding down "control-alt-o-r" (i believe this is what i used). i then boot up after this pram reset by holding "option". this allowed me to select the disk to boot from.

i got an install started, but it was stuck at 6% for a while on software installation. i'm going to download this 9.10 version you linked above, and see how that goes.

appreciate the help.