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Question about installing on Intel MacBooks (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hey there, I'm trying to install Mint on a 2015 MacBook Pro and for some reason the laptop won't show the USB in the boot menu when I try to access it. I've tried using both baleneaEtcher on both my Macbook and my Linux desktop, and ventoy on the desktop to make the drive but neither has worked.

Does anyone have experience with this era of macs and installing Linux on them?

EDIT: Changing the flash drive worked ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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[-] eugenia@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Try another usb, different brand. It might not be the burning app, it could be the usb itself. Also, try different ports of usb. Finally, have an ethernet usb adapter, if your laptop doesn't have an ethernet port, because you will need that to install the wifi driver, which is not included by default on linux, because it's not a Free driver.

[-] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 months ago

I'll give this a shot, thank you

[-] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 months ago

worked, thanks lol

[-] Chimaeratorian@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago

This explains so much! It took me ages to get the Broadcom working correctly and even now I’m not sure how I got it to work (it sometimes goes away and I have to reboot to bring it back).

[-] Chimaeratorian@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago

The etcher worked for me but I installed elementaryOS on a 2013. Have you verified the checksum and verified the USB works to boot any other computer you have available (your Linux desktop, maybe?)

[-] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 months ago

yeah I used the same USB to install Garuda on my desktop just very recently

[-] Chimaeratorian@beehaw.org 1 points 3 months ago

Haha I think there’s some confusion. I’m not asking if the USB is confirmed working, I’m asking if your Mint image is correctly written and can boot another machine successfully.

[-] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 months ago

oh sorry, yes the mint image is working

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

Macs dont support EFI booting OSes other than Mac OS properly. You either need to install a bootloader or make sure you flash drive is made in “legacy bios mode”.

[-] Chimaeratorian@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago

My 2013 MacBook Pro with elementaryOS begs to differ.

[-] lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 2 points 3 months ago

Was it installed EFI or BIOS/legacy?

[-] Chimaeratorian@beehaw.org 3 points 3 months ago

The icon I clicked on to start the installer was an orange disk called “EFI Boot.”

[-] lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 3 points 3 months ago

Well darn, your 2013 MacBook Pro with elementaryOS does beg to differ.

[-] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Yeah I installed the bootloader.

[-] jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Are you holding 'Option' down when it boots? So as to access the GNU GRUB menu?

Quick search:

  • First look: Linux Mint 21 beta, on a 10 year old Mac! [24:14 | JUL 17 2022 | Veronica Explains]https://youtu.be/D7wOcIvWdxc&t=210

Chapters:

  1. 00:00 Intro
  2. 00:26 Why use Linux Mint?
  3. 03:29 Booting from, and playing with, the live USB
  4. 06:51 Release notes and installing Linux Mint
  5. 09:50 First impressions of the new Linux Mint install
  6. 10:56 Walking through the "First Steps" guide
  7. 14:45 Updating for the first time and playing with the Panel
  8. 15:53 System settings in Linux Mint
  9. 16:32 Software Manager and installing OBS from Flatpak
  10. 18:21 Customizing the Panel (taskbar)
  11. 19:52 Trying OBS from the Flatpak, testing the camera
  12. 20:24 Other applications shipped with Linux Mint
  13. 22:56 Parting thoughts

Edit2: added below; forgot yt link, added

Another quick search:

This process should work on any Intel Mac pre 2018 (without T2 security chip & secure boot). Thanks for the suggestion to install Linux on this old MacBook Air! It has brought new life to this old computer and I am really enjoying getting to know Linux, as I have never really used Linux in this capacity. Let me know if you would like a more in depth video of how I set up my Linux environment!

[-] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I had to mess around with the EFI boot on my 2015 MacBook Pro.

[-] lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 3 points 3 months ago

What did you have to change?

[-] LeFantome@programming.dev 1 points 3 months ago

I have installed Linux on several Macs. Just installed EndeavourOS on a 2013 MacBook Air a couple nights ago.

As somebody else said, wait for the chime and then hold down the Option key to get presented with the USB stick as an option.

It may have to be the left Option key. In rare cases, you may need Shift-Option.

Worst case, install Legacy Core Patcher and it will show the USB even without pressing Option.

You need a version of Linux that can boot from EFI of course.

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2024
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