[clug] Installing debian on a macpro - grub failed

[Hal Ashburner]

Hi Logan, Adam, Clug,

EFI ?

iirc macs use (U)EFI rather than bios and don't have a bios compatibility
mode that's much use for installations. Recent fedora works with EFI,
recent ubu too. Not sure about debian
This:
http://dentifrice.poivron.org/laptops/macbookpro8,2/

Suggests it can be done but not with the standard installer. And with a
fair bit of mucking about - caveat I only skimmed it in 10 seconds.

I'd go with the most recent Fedora myself as it's probably what  Matt
Garrett uses nowadays and it's a very solid distro with a large userbase
which maximises your chances of someone else having hit and written
problems they've had and solutions when you hit them.
http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/

As always YMMV. Good luck.



On 17 December 2013 09:53, Adam Baxter <voltagex at voltagex.org> wrote:

> *snipped*
>
> > It seems that this new istallation is the only operating system on this
> > computer.
> > If so, it should be safe to install the GRUB boot loader to the master
> > boot record
> > of your first hard drive.
> > Install the GRUB boot loader to the master boot record? Yes
> >
> > Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda
> > Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda' failed.
> > This is a fatal error.
> > Continue, continue.
> >
> > It wouldn't let me continue, and I tried to do GRUB again, so I tried to
> > do the following with no idea what I was doing!!!!!!!
> >
> > Install the LILO boot loader on a hard disk.
> > LILO installation target: /dev/sdb: Master Boot Record
> > Do you want to add the large-memory option? Yes
> > Do you want to convert boot and root options? Yes
> > Do you want to run /sbin/lilo now? Yes
> >
> > Installation complete
> > The CD will automatically eject. Take the CD and close the tray by hand.
> > Continue
> >
> > The computer automatically rebooted
> > The flashing ? folder is shown
> >
> > Won't boot into anything - just keep getting flashing folder!!!!!
> >
> > Press power button to turn off computer.
> >
> > Turn on computer and hold down option key - still nothing - just flashing
> > ? folder.
> >
> >
> Oops!
> See if you can restart the install, either from CD or USB
>
> Sorry to whoever I've stolen the following chunk from:
> > I'd suggest you choose Help from the first install screen and type
> > "expert" then check Ctrl+Alt+F4 (not sure what that will map to on the
> Mac keyboard, maybe Ctrl+Option+F4) after the GRUB step to see the errors
>
> For GRUB errors I really really need the logs. I bet it's looking for a
> partition that you blew away earlier ;)
>
> Definitely don't mess with LILO.
>
> --Adam
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