installing ubuntu on ibook G3
 

my laptop is a ibook G3, 256 ram, 512 mhz 30gb hd, and i have an ubuntu just install disc and an ubuntu live cd, when i attempted to install ubuntu from the install disc i eventually got to a part that said my hd would have to reformatted to install and would wipe the whole thing, my question then is can i install without wiping the hd?? (for some reason it wont let me make a partition)

It looks like if you need to repartition your disk.

Do you have any necessary files there? Do you want to keep your OSX (make a dual-boot computer)?

If not, just reformat the HD.

If yes, you have to change the size of the partitions on the disk and make a free partition. Then install linux on that. Unfortunately I don't know how can partitions changed on OSX (though google hints of 'diskutility').

You may also use a live distribution, in that case nothing is installed on HD

Best,
Ott

yes i want to make a duel boot computer with OSX and Linux, and for some reason disk utility wont let me make a partition, maybe you cant partition a hd that small, i dont know, and i have used the live cd, but it runs incredibly slow since i have a generally slow computer... is there maybe a diff version from what i have that doesnt require reformatting?

Unfortunately I don't know 'disk utility'. Resizing the partitions is always a bit risky, so you should backup all your valuable data. Consult a mac guru if you know any.

What you have to do is the following:

Make an existing partition smaller. There must be enough free space on the partition, of course.

Now there should be free space on the disk, formerly occupied by the partition. Make a new partition on that space.

Use the new parition for linux.

The size of your HD is not a problem.

Best,
Ott

Do you have a single partion in the HDD. Then you have to reformat it. I never tried using diskutility on OSX.

yellowdog linux is more apple-compatible than most distros.