Isn't it an issue with your SystemD?

Sorry, my fault. I meant uname -r

The current version of the kernel is 4.11 if you want to give it a spin.

https://www.kernel.org/

I'm about to give up on my problem. This week-end I tried a few things:

- Downgrade to Ubuntu 14.04 - same problem (I tried to install the fglrx proprietary drivers for my radeon, but could not manage to have it working)
- Tried Point Linux (based on Debian) - same problem
- Tried Fedora 25 - same problem

I'm now more or less convinced that it is a kind of hardware problem, afterall it's a 11 years old machine, and I'm probably the only one in the world trying having this problem.

I will look into the possibility to install a newer kernel; but I don't think there's much hope on this side either.

I've thrown in the towel on a few things myself so I know how you feel.

***Your might want to try Anti-X it's 'designed for older computers' and runs well.***
http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

A member here that I chat with runs Anti-X and I've only heard good results from him with an older machine.

mtest001,

Post #9 on :
https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=39059
suggests that MX16 works on early MacBook Pros.

I would be inclined to backup all your personal data and then install antiX-16.1 (32 bit):
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix

I can give no guarantees that antiX will work straight away, but you have nothing to lose by giving it a try.

By the way, antiX is based on Debian and is free of systemd.

FAQs:
http://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/...FAQ/index.html

Downloads:
http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?tit...ors.2FDownload

Good luck.

Thanks for chiming in beachboy2-

Hi there,
Sorry for not giving any news, I've continued to search for a solution. Anti-X did not change anything so in the end I finally did reinstall Ubuntu... Right before my SSD drive died !

Not sure if the crah of the SSD is related or not, but for the time being the computer is OoO :-(

Thanks anyhow for your help, I'll let you know if I manage to bring it back to life.

Sorry to hear your SSD died.
It's happened to me too.

I hope you will be able to pick up/purchase another drive.

You're Welcome.

The installation of Ubuntu that you have installed on your Mac: is it a dual boot with your Mac os x?

Yes, it was a dual boot wih OSX

But now it's not?

I'll look in the Ubuntu Forum. If I find any SOLVED threads where members have installed Ubuntu on a Mac Book Pro I'll post it for you.

Ubuntu has a WiKi for a Mac Book Pro.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro

I wonder if there is an argument in the configuration file for Grub that's not being seen at start up? Wasn't sure so I looked it up.
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Filesy...html/boot.html

Anyway looking at the steps the system goes through before Linux completely boots to your desktop there's a number of things I think it could be. One in which (kernel module issue) you already mentioned. It might be an Init issue too.

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2011/02/linux-boot-process

Have other Linux distributions given you the same booting issue?