Linux on Mac Powerbook 520?

seanj · 05-07-2007, 09:22 PM

I bought a used Powerbook 520 Macintosh and would like to replace the OS with GNU/Linux. All the machine has is a floppy disc drive. Does anyone know if I can do this?

Berto · 05-08-2007, 01:49 PM

Searching the internet (hint hint) I found the specs for the 520 and it runs a m68k processor, so Linux should be able to run on it. Debian, for instance has an m68k version.

seanj · 05-08-2007, 02:25 PM

Thanks. I tried to get Debian floppies at http://www.debian.org/releases/stabl...en#where-files but got a 404 error. I'll keep searching.

seanj · 05-08-2007, 02:59 PM

I found a Debian version that might work but I can't figure out how to boot this machine with a floppy disk. I've read through a few guides, and they all explain everything except how to boot of a floppy. Is Linux always this hard?

Indiestory · 05-08-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanj

Is Linux always this hard?

No, macs can just be very difficult to get to boot, it might be a good idea to read some of the netbsd documentation, especially booting a floppy process.

seanj · 05-08-2007, 03:12 PM

Okay, I'll try that. Thanks.

ADDED: This is insane. Now I'm reading about a "booter application" and "installation kernel" with no hints as to where I might find these things... This is nuts.

I give up.

Indiestory · 05-09-2007, 10:27 AM

im sorry to say it ,but this is the way a lot of none x86 documentation seems to be, you have no idea how many hours ive spent searching servers across the world looking for files that just don't exist

fxmod · 08-19-2007, 05:56 PM

Could you configure the Powerbook's ethernet over the AAUI-15 port to use a DHCP & BOOTP server, then set up such a server to Netboot linux on your Powerbook?

seanj · 08-21-2007, 09:42 PM

I don't have the required peripherals and none of the Mac stores around carry them. Thanks for the idea, though. Maybe someday I'll find the parts I need.

fxmod · 08-22-2007, 04:36 AM

Maybe that someday is coming soon... The search phrases: "AAUI-15 ethernet adapter" & "AAUI-15 RJ45 ethernet adapter" seemed somewhat fruitful. I'm currently checking with swelltech in Dallas whether their "Asante FriendlyNet Transceiver AAUI-15 to RJ45" which didn't sell on ebay on August 10 is still available; I'll let you know. I only need to transfer files from my 520c (to a PC, linux or mswin -- presumably a much simpler task), which I still need to figure out how to do. Cheers.