[SOLVED] Macintosh/ linux issues

anutherguy · 03-08-2011, 01:22 PM

Okay, i have a linux iso, actually two since my last post, but when i rebbot the mac, and try to boot into live usb or live cd mode, it thinks it is windows, opens ms-dos prompt, and just sits there beeping at me occasionally. I have no idea what to do, is there a certain text typing or word i am supposed to input for it to do something? Mac os remains unaffected.

MCD555 · 03-08-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anutherguy

Okay, i have a linux iso, actually two since my last post, but when i rebbot the mac, and try to boot into live usb or live cd mode, it thinks it is windows, opens ms-dos prompt, and just sits there beeping at me occasionally. I have no idea what to do, is there a certain text typing or word i am supposed to input for it to do something? Mac os remains unaffected.

What kind of Mac have you got?
Is it an Intel one or a PPC one? This make some differences....

Did you try to reboot pressing the C key at startup? This is the usual procedure to start from disk.
Have a look at this, it could be helpful:

http://www.jacsoft.co.nz/Tech_Notes/Mac_Keys.shtml

What kind of ISO distro would you like to test: a i586 or a 64bit one?

Sorry for the questions but more knowledge need to help you further.

Hope this helps.

anutherguy · 03-09-2011, 10:20 AM

I have a mac book air, intel archetecture, and yes, i triewd the c key, same thing happens. The particular linux iso is read as fedora 15 alpha I686 live kde.iso

MCD555 · 03-10-2011, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anutherguy

I have a mac book air, intel archetecture, and yes, i triewd the c key, same thing happens. The particular linux iso is read as fedora 15 alpha I686 live kde.iso

Well, so you're tring to boot from a usb disk or usb CD, aren't you?

Take a look at this link:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ho...ng%20live%20CD

it says that could be difficult to boot in a OS different from OSX without an external Superdrive:

Quote:

This page is about installing Ubuntu on a MacBook Air, using the Ubuntu Desktop CD and the Apple External Drive, which needs to be purchased separately. When using the external drive, make sure you connect the power cable to your computer.

Note that the Macbook Air Superdrive is the only external drive that you can use to boot into Ubuntu from a CD. Intel Macs will boot Mac OSX from any USB device under certain conditions, but not other operating systems. The only exception to this rule is the Macbook Air Superdrive external DVD drive. There have been some reports of success without the Superdrive, by making a small separate boot partition on the Macbook Air disk, and booting into Ubuntu from that - see http://www.grimsby.us/?p=3 for an example, but others have tried and given up - see http://castyour.net/node/74

Good luck!