[SOLVED] My PPC won't boot from Live CD

[stream303]

That's great news about being able to boot the cd's!

Tiresia's suggestion at the boot: prompt is great. I might even go further and add these options:

Linux live-nosplash-powerpc64 video=ofonly

If the gui doesn't come up, you can still go to a virtual terminal (CTRL-ALT-F2) and see if the commandline works for now with some simple commands such as:

uname -r
or
cat /proc/cpuinfo

Thing is, you have reached a point where user-customization is mandatory to revive the gui. Because of the fact that Apple hardware isn't Linux-friendly, you'll have to gather up some known values to plug into the config files that the installer or live-cd has no way of knowing about.

Since the live-cd operates in ram, you *could* manually edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf, shut down the xserver, log out and log back in, and see if your changes worked. At this point, it just might be easier to install the system onto the drive, which is not just a quick look-see kind of thing.

Unfortunately, this is something most of us face. You'll need to gather your horizontal and vertical frequency data for your monitor, and most likely make sure the driver is right for your radeon card, and then make a custom xorg.conf file. I got some specs for your machine at everymac.com, and also see that it supports two drives.

In some models, two drives presents a problem that early version of yaboot couldn't handle without manual changes if that model actually has two hard drive controllers. Fortunately, yaboot in Intrepid 8.10 is smarter and should be able to deal with this, but you'll still have to manually configure your video.

So you see where this is going - to test out Ubuntu PPC, you'll probably find that you'll have to just install it and see how far you get with manual configuration. Along the way you'll probably have to get involved with the commandline, text editors, etc and may reboot the machine more than you'd like. In any case, make sure you have a full working backup of OSX, or are willing to reinstall everything.

Everyone here is happy to help, but just take into account your personal frustration level.

[bug67]

The G5 is a powerpc64, so at boot prompt hit TAB and choose a powerpc64 option (like 'live-nosplash-powerpc64')

BINGO!!!

Got it to boot on my G5. I am backing up my HD now to prepare for an install. I'm sure I'll have many more questions after.

Thanks!

[stream303]

Gulp. Ok, here we go.....

The easiest way in my mind to do this if you want to dual-boot, is to reinstall OSX first to only half the drive. So, at the start of the fresh OSX install, go up to disk utility, and repartition your drive into two partitions - one for OSX extended journaling, (no os9 compatability unless your are doing os9 stuff), and leave the second partition just open as "free space". Then continue on with the OSX installation as normal.

Make sure OSX boots and works properly when done.

Then, when it comes time for Ubuntu installation, let guided partition install to "free space". DON'T use "whole disk", or else it will wipe out your osx install. At the end of installation, yaboot should notice osx, and include it in the yaboot boot prompt, usually with the "X" option. Make sure that works before doing anything else.

Then comes the fun part of tying to get the gui going in ubuntu later.

Definitely take your time, and try to make it fun.

[bug67]

Ok. I don't want OS X and Ubuntu on the same disk. Is it possible to leave my OS X HD intact and just install Ubuntu on the second HD?

[tiresia]

Ok. I don't want OS X and Ubuntu on the same disk. Is it possible to leave my OS X HD intact and just install Ubuntu on the second HD?

Yes, of course. I do the same. If you are not expereinced, but even if you are, backup important data! Are you trying to install Hardy?

[bug67]

Yes, of course. I do the same. If you are not expereinced, but even if you are, backup important data! Are you trying to install Hardy?

Yes. Trying to install Hardy. I'd like to upgrade to Intrepid after but, one thing at a time. I am backing up now. I'm just thrilled that I was able to boot from the Live CD at this point. That was the major first step.

[stream303]

Is this drive bootable, like firewire?

Intrepid's new yaboot is supposed to take care of external hd issues, and what I did in the past was to hold down the "alt" or "option" key when booting after installation to it to get the icon-drive boot drive choice to select the firewire.

You may have to do the same here.

I was able to get Ubuntu Intrepid installed onto an external firewire drive, and the new yaboot seemed to perform ok, but for some reason, I couldn't get it to boot unlike I did in the past - could be user error, but I didn't look into it too much and decided to dual-boot on the internal drive.

Soooo.... If you've got nothing to lose on that external firewire, I'd try Intrepid first, but if it doesn't work immediately, guess what - more manual editing, possibly a downgrade to Hardy 8.04 with more manual editing...

So give Intrepid a shot if you feel like it. Your results would help out other users here for sure...

[bug67]

Is this drive bootable, like firewire?

I am wanting to install Hardy on a second internal drive.

I would be going directly for an Intrepid install but, I couldn't find a PPC download for 8.10. Hardy was the most recent version for PPC I could find. I am just assuming I can upgrade after I install Hardy?

But, as far as where I install, I would like Ubuntu bootable from my G5's 2nd Internal hard drive if at all possible.

[mkvnmtr]

There is a 8.10 alternate install disk but you can't play with it like you can a live disk. There is a live disk also but some of us have not been able to get it to boot. since this is your first time 8.04 will probably be better for you. Then when you have a little experience another install only takes about one hour. Good luck

[bug67]

Ok. I am typing this from within Firefox onboard my freshly installed Hardy Heron equipped Macintosh G5 computer. The installer asked me which drive I wanted to install on. I naturally chose the one that OS X wasn't on. All seems well.

Right off the bat, 2 things:

1. I have 2 monitors and Hardy is wanting to mirror them. I un-checked the "clone screens" in the screen resolution settings in system settings but, my screens are still mirrored. Also clicked on "Detect Displays" to no avail.

2. It seems that I am unable to use the numeric key pad portion of my key board. (EDIT: ) Got this one figured out.

I'm doing a software update right now so, maybe after that and a re-start, we'll see how things go.

I think this particular thread has served it's purpose so, any further questions and I'll start a new thread.

Thank you all for you help. I look forward to getting to know you as well as Ubuntu/Linux.

"...There is a live disk also but some of us have not been able to get it to boot..."

Where can I find it? I'd like to give it a go. I've been using 8.10 on my old Compaq laptop for about a week and a half now. (EDIT: ) Never mind. I found it.