I recently installed Linux (Debian 9 i386 stable) on an old iMac: early 2006, iMac 4,1, coreduo. When it boots, it works great. But that's the rub: it really doesn't like to boot.
I get past the "Welcome to Debian!" message and it looks like systemd starts spitting out its usual messages. And then it usually locks up shortly after "Started udev Kernel Device Manager." It spits out a few more messages, usually about ACPI detecting the power button, but it isn't consistent when it locks up. For example, here is what shows on the screen right now:
Code:
[OK] Started udev Kernel Device Manger.
[OK] Started Raise network interfaces.
[11.64...] input: Power Button as /devices/...
[11.64...] ACPI: Power Button [PWRB]
[11.64...] input: Power button as /devices/...
[11.64...] ACPI: Power Button [PWRF]
I just power-cycled and got the same, except no "Raise network interfaces" message.
Sometimes I get a few more messages. And sometimes it boots up without any complaints at all. And when it does, it behaves just fine with either KDE or LXQT. Usually power-cycling after a successful boot continues the luck---it keeps booting fine, whether I reboot or do a shutdown and then turn it on again. But if I leave it off for a few hours, then I'm back to locking up.
I tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM; it booted once after resetting the SMC, but then that had no effect on later boot attempts, so I suspect that was just coincidence.
I've tried a few different kernel parameters with no consistent luck. acpi=off prevents the machine from even getting to systemd. I tried a few of the PCI-related kernel parameters, but none of them seemed to do much, and I'm really not sure which ones would be appropriate anyway.
Any thoughts? Kernel parameters to try? Magical incantations? I'd even be happy with "Try XXX; I don't know why it would matter, but try it anyway..."
Eventually I'll probably just give up. But it is just annoying me that this machine seems to work just fine (especially good enough for my kids, who don't have very high demands yet), except that I usually can't get it to start.