imac intel cor2 duo wont install linux
 

i have an imac 5.1 and it simply will not install linux. mac software is 10.4.11
does anyone have any info on why these computers wont accept the install. i installed refit on the mac and it still wont do it. any info would be great , thank you

It's not quite as simple as installing on a PC running Windows, but not difficult. This page will tell you what to do — it refers to Ubuntu, but the principle's the same for any Linux.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/iMacCoreDuo

hi david, i didnt get past the initial
gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

it said bash: gksudo: command not found

this was something about how to et the keyboard???? it didnt seem to be about an install of linux on a mac core duo

The first section on that page is "Core Installation", which has a link to the installation process.

The "gksudo gedit" command is just opening xorg.conf in a text editor (gedit) as root (gksudo). There are a million ways you can do this same thing, don't get hung up on that exact command.

It seems I was wrong — it's not easy. Ubuntu's link to "core installation" seems to lead into the wilderness, and the Debian documentation is obsolete.

It looks as you you need to spell out you problem: e.g.
Which Linux installation disk are you trying to use?
Does the live session boot?
If you get as far as running the installer, at what stage does it fail?
Exactly what error messages do you get when things go wrong?

11.4 ubuntu
 

in imac 5,1 core 2 duo
i have only been able to install ubuntu 11.4 which means that my wireless network doesnt work, it says device not ready, firmware missing.
how do i install ubuntu latest version using the terminal because the apple bios???? wont allow me to mount the iso file. what script do i need to get it installed via the terminal ?

How can I install latest Ubuntu from terminal
 

Hi guys , I m having a lot of problems trying to install Ubuntu on my old Mac. I just want to know how to install the latest version from the terminal.

Moderator, please don't delete my post or close it, no one is answering the previous question because I phrased the question wrong. The answer that someone gave me was wrong and they posted they were wrong.

I'm sure if you are the moderator you know the answer to this question. Rather than cutting me off, why don't you help me find the answer to the question. That's why I joined this forum, I'm new and I haven't a clue about linux. I'm trying to learn.

Ummm no, I don't know the answer.

And I didn't close your third duplicate but merged it with the original.

Any NEW dupes will be closed again, however, there's no point in keeping us busy. Stick with your original thread, keep it alive.

How did you install the older linux if bios didn't allow you to mount an iso?

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

It may be possible to take an existing install of linux and then install. Knoppix had a web page on their way of moving from a live boot to an install. It really is a lot of work.

There's something with those particular iMac core 2 duos that won't mount the ISO. I remember seeing an install for a software program that said something like sudo gedit download and install ?????? And I typed it into the terminal and it was amazing. It downloaded it and installed it. I just wondered if you can type a command into the terminal to upgrade Ubuntu from 11.4 to the present one. Everything I tried says command not found. I was hoping you 'terminal guys' would know some command that would do it.

If you research the iMac core 2 duo you will see that it is a problematic machine. I have no idea why.

Jefro, it allowed me to boot 11.4
None of the other ISO disks worked. I tried mint, Ubuntu studio, ubuntu, Lubuntu, xubuntu
I ended up with Ubuntu 11.4 because it was the only one that would mount. It seems that there's a weird problem with old macs and the bios. Although please understand I havent a clue what I'm talking about. I don't think its possible to clean install on a Mac, I think you have to leave some of the system bios on the machine.
Anyway, to answer your question, it was the only one that would boot and unfortunately it is discontinued so any attempts to update it reach a command not found.

Also , sorry to tinkerer. I didn't know that the thread would be moved to the top when it was updated. Sorry.

---------- Post added 03-06-15 at 05:50 AM ----------

Tinkster
Damn spell check!

If you check out the similar question threads you'll see it is an issue. I've just noticed that a lot of people have posted questions with similar themes. It's all the core 2 duo