latest MBP 9,1 (non-Retina) won't boot 12.04 CD or USB

[skierpage]

I've run Kubuntu dual-boot on a desktop PC for years. I have a new 15-inch MacBook Pro: model 9,1 (not the Retina), and want to run 12.04 on it. I followed the LifeHacker guide and installed rEFIt (latest version 0.14 is 2.5 years old..?) and resized to add Windows and Linux root/home/swap partitions.

I haven't installed Windows yet. I went straight to booting a Kubuntu 12.04 .iso, and into a brick wall . I've put first the amd64 and then amd64+Mac desktop CD .iso on USB flash drive with usb-creator, I've burned the amd64+Mac to CD, I've booted with one or the other or both CD and USB inserted, and whether I boot from rEFIt or holding down the option key, or holding down the 'c' key for CD-ROM boot, I always wind up at a dark gray screen showing "Boot error" or just a flashing cursor. I never see a Linux-like splash screen or grub menu.

There is no page yet for the 9,1 in the MacTel Wiki Support Matrix , but I've followed the closest model (8,2 on Oneiric). Note I haven't even got to messing around with MBRs and GPTs; this computer just doesn't seem to like the (K)ubuntu boot media.

There are a zillion things I could try: a different USB flash drive, burn the regular amd64 (no "+Mac") .iso to CD, learn EFI commands, learn rEFIt commands, try an alternate (no graphics?) .iso, try a Fedora 17 .iso (developer did insane amount of work for Mac booting) ... But mainly I'm hoping for "I got a 9,1 model to work", "I've heard of problems with latest MBP hardware/firmware" or "Here's how to diagnose early CD/USB boot failures."

This model 9,1 has Apple firmware 1.10, EFI 1.10, Intel HD Graphics 4000 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M to 1,440-by-900 display, 500 GB spinning drive, Core i7.

Thanks and regards (and a big shout-out to "Smurphy" helping folks out on #kubuntu last night).

[BoDlulu]

I wish I had seen your post before.

I *just* purchased a MacBook Pro, and I am trying to install Ubuntu, to no avail

What am I gonna do, use MacOS?!

Please follow up if you find a solution.

[BoDlulu]

Well, you know what? This method worked for me:
http://tillmail.de/wordpress/436

Good luck!

[lael]

My MacBookPro6,1 wouldn't boot either. I've got that method and also using the amd64+mac iso to boot.

[inphektion]

honestly there are always little issues on these new macs. Ubuntu can't catch up. None their fault, propriety stuff needs reverse engineering, etc...
But it seems like a constant fight trying to get ubuntu to run on this hardware and even once it *works* it doesn't work as well as the native mac, using both video cards, efi boot, wifi drivers, etc.

My point is that instead of fighting it I don't see a reason not to leave macosx native, with these latest gen of intels, up to 16GB of ram, etc. I can run ubuntu full screen mode in a vm and not ever know i didn't boot it native. This is what i'm going to do, this way i don't fight with getting ubuntu working half a$$ over the next year on the latest mac osx hardware.

[theMentor]

Hi guys,

So I have had no issue running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (Non-Retina) 9,1

Can I ask what you've tried so far?

I simply booted the image of USB after splitting my harddrive down the middle using DiskUtility in OSX.

Once installed in added the macintel repo and bob-your-uncle, wifi, USB and all that...

[alexmurray]

Try booting the livecd / usb with the kernel boot parameter:

nouveau.noaccel=1

Or if that doesn't work try:

nomodeset

as a kernel parameter as well

[BoDlulu]

So I have had no issue running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (Non-Retina) 9,1

I simply booted the image of USB after splitting my harddrive down the middle using DiskUtility in OSX.

FYI mine is a 9,2 - not a 9,1. Maybe that is why it wasn't as easy as with yours.


1/ I had to use the method mentioned above to boot from the usb key (the http://tillmail.de/wordpress/436 one)

2/ Once the installation was done, linux would crash during boot. I had to add the noapic kernel argument (found it by googling the error message while starting in safe mode)

3/ Wifi didn't work, I had to manually add the 'b43' (broadcom) drivers

Now it works well but I still have two minor problems:

- The keyboard backlight doesn't work
- Wifi sometimes doesn't work after suspend/resume

[philcolbourn]

Hi guys,

So I have had no issue running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (Non-Retina) 9,1

Can I ask what you've tried so far?

I simply booted the image of USB after splitting my harddrive down the middle using DiskUtility in OSX.

Once installed in added the macintel repo and bob-your-uncle, wifi, USB and all that...

What iso image did you use? There are many to choose from: i386-dvd, alt amd64 ,...

I tried a non dvd one for x64 (i think...) and it did not work.

[philcolbourn]

FYI mine is a 9,2 - not a 9,1. Maybe that is why it wasn't as easy as with yours.


1/ I had to use the method mentioned above to boot from the usb key (the http://tillmail.de/wordpress/436 one)

2/ Once the installation was done, linux would crash during boot. I had to add the noapic kernel argument (found it by googling the error message while starting in safe mode)

3/ Wifi didn't work, I had to manually add the 'b43' (broadcom) drivers

Now it works well but I still have two minor problems:

- The keyboard backlight doesn't work
- Wifi sometimes doesn't work after suspend/resume

Is your fan working? Did applesmc module load?