Installing on a macbookpro 5.5

I was looking into installing elementary on my macbook pro I went on the elementary os website. It states to use Etcher to install elementary.

I am confused I thought I needed a efi bootloader? What is the best way to install?


Thanks

What hardware has your macbook pro?

Its a mid 2009 macbookpro 5.5 specs are below

https://support.apple.com/kb/sp579?locale=en_US

Mine has 8Gb ram though.

The EFI partition is created and the bootloader is installed during the install process.

Must be a special installation, I use Linux was going to try that. But Mint needed a additional bootloader I was reseaching that
than read an article on elementary os.

After I rechecked my mac I discovered its a mid 2009 not late 2009.

My MBP mid 2009 has LinuxMint 18,3 Sylvia on it right now and works great.

You might need 2 other pieces of software, one for fan speed/control, one for maximizing battery life (it will be horrible without the software). Also, when you update drivers, get the ones for your graphics, touchpad, and wifi (if needed). Have a hardwired connection available just in case.

I also recommend using Mate as your DE instead of Cinnamon. It is faster and just as good. Be careful upgrading your kernel though. It might make everything not work. I have not done so on mine and I probably won't ever.

What fan control software TLP for battery whst about fan? Yes I thought about using mate and not cinnamon. Though bluetooth device selecting is better on cinnamon.

tlp is what I use for the battery. It has saved me quite a bit of battery life. Some people use powertop, but I want a software I can fire and forget.

As for fan software, if you find your temps out of whack or the fans too fast, consider "macfanctld." There is also a software called mbpfan with instructions found here: https://ineed.coffee/3838/a-beginner...-under-ubuntu/ THIS software (mbpfan) is what I used because I like easy instructions. The latest version is 2.0.2 as of now. If you choose it, get gedit as well for editing the file. You will notice a difference if all works well.

After much consideration I have decided this is going to be much for the time currently have. I plan on selling it not worth much but its been sitting in a drawer for to long.

The OS should work for you, not the other way around. On my MBP 5,5 I found that El Capitan and higher were too slow to do anything. I put linux mint on mine and it works great. Even with the battery software, the life still isn't great. On Ebay, the things fetch max 300. I say sell it for whatever you can get for it and look into saving for something that does what you need it to and that works for you. If something is a hassle, I usually move on. That is why I never tried Arch Linux and why I put Mint on a MBP to begin with. I don't have time to screw with a hassle. I just want things to work, and work for me.

I have a thinkpad t520 with LM 18.3 cinnamon
and it runs flawlessly. Do I really need the MacBook? Thinking of adding more ram to the thinkpad. I do not think I get three-hundred for it. If I did keep the MacBook could be a learning experience with linux since my experience has been far to easy installing linux. But I do think once it works never update the kernel that most likely will cause a regression.

I was wiping the hard drive on my Macbook pro preparing it for best buy recycle than I though why no try a Linux OS. I decided on Elementary. I install synaptic and added PPA support Since I know I will need it. I installed TLP 0.8 from the repo wondering if I should install the PPA and update to the TLP 1.1 not sure how much it will change things though.


I installed Loki and updated it and its a bit slow on the boot but it works. All the functions keys work but F3 and F4. I did install macfanctld and and once it install fan or fans came on fast and than calmed down. The mac was getting hot on the left side and warmer around the screen. Now its warn but not hot.

I used the

command macfanctld -f

to have the it run in the back ground and it had a error wanting applesmc kernel dependency. I do not know where to find applemc. If I need a PPA where is one for 16.04.1?


All of the video players have a issue with playing dvds and I installed the libdvd pkg. Smaplayer error message log is in code below.

When playing a music CD the default player does play the cd when you want to change tracks it stops the disc. I install audacious and that plays and changes the tracks normally. even the F7 F8 F9 work with it. Just a heads up with other users using elementary on a Macbook pro.


The driver used it the open source version there are nvidia drivers 304 and 340 options but it seems from research these are not able to build in the new kernels.

Last there is Macbook options in the repo on synaptic but I do not know enough about them. I have attached a screen shot of the options.

Playing: dvd://menu
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 5.0.3
libdvdnav: DVD Title: SOLO
libdvdnav: DVD Serial Number: 4CF78157
libdvdnav: DVD Title (Alternative): SOLO
libdvdnav: DVD disk reports itself with Region mask 0x00f60000. Regions: 1 4
libdvdread: Attempting to retrieve all CSS keys
libdvdread: This can take a _long_ time, please be patient
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.VOB at 0x0000013c
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB at 0x0000035b
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_02_0.VOB at 0x00000435
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_02_1.VOB at 0x0000072c
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_0.VOB at 0x00000744
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB at 0x0000075c
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_04_0.VOB at 0x0000078a
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_04_1.VOB at 0x0002602b
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_05_0.VOB at 0x00026054
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_05_1.VOB at 0x00026063
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_06_1.VOB at 0x0002629b
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_07_1.VOB at 0x000262e9
libdvdread: Elapsed time 1
libdvdread: Found 7 VTS's
libdvdread: Elapsed time 1
[dvdnav] DVD menu support has been removed.
Failed to open dvd://menu.
Exiting... (Errors when loading file)

Thanks for any help
Dave

Due to the power drain of the battery from the GPU I am recycling this Macbook. It was a test really to see what Linux found and what it did not. I was impressed really. I never though the mac would boot from the HDD with Linux on it. I really do not want to recharge the battery everyday which I would need to may the mac rest in piece.

I think I better test would be a imac but I would get a 27 inch. I would have a expert install a new drive if necessary. this is in the future and I am still thinking about it. All this great mac hardware which has to have a nvidia card in everyone. I am not buying a another new mac. I get better used thinkpads.

how did you get it installed please. i cannot get it to see or find the disc or the dosc in in axternal hd. on a macbook. cannot get past square one . i wuld greatly appreciate any help. trying to run debian but wouldn't mind mint lmde or elementary.either.,

It depends on what macbook model you have. Some models are not able to. I would not use debian OS it does not have firmware for wifi etc built in the installation disc its a image you need to have on a USB stick.


The main reason I stopped is elementary updates the kernals when it updates the OS which will break the wifi driver. I would search your mac book model and linux to fet an idea if its possible. Here is how to get dvd to start i would try ubuntu.

Insert your USB stick in your Mac.

Restart your Mac and hold down the Option Key while it reboots.

When you arrive at the Boot Selection screen, choose “EFI Boot” to select your bootable USB Stick.

Select Install Ubuntu from the Grub boot screen.

Good luck