Bootable Linux for Mac?

[Arkaign]

Hi guys, first post in this section, thanks in advance for any input here. I have come across an older Mac Powerbook G4, a little one with maybe a 12/13" Screen or so, from 2002. When you try to boot it, it has a little swirly thing that sits there for about two minutes, then finally a box comes up that says 'You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button, etc'. Doing so, you get the same message.

What I'd like to know is if there is a bootable Linux CD (maybe with an installer?) that I could use to put a current OS on this, or test the hardware with, etc.

Is there a hotkey to make it boot from the CD drive, or is that a default setting? Any bios access key? Forgive my inexperience

All recommendations/info welcomed!

Bottom of unit says model A1010, fwiw.

 

[gus6464]

To boot from cd drive hold down the 'c' key while powering up machine. As far as linux distros go you could download a powerpc version of ubuntu 7.04 or try gentoo too. I would check the ubuntu and gentoo wiki on setting them up on the pbook 12in.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Hi guys, first post in this section, thanks in advance for any input here. I have come across an older Mac Powerbook G4, a little one with maybe a 12/13" Screen or so, from 2002. When you try to boot it, it has a little swirly thing that sits there for about two minutes, then finally a box comes up that says 'You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button, etc'. Doing so, you get the same message.

What I'd like to know is if there is a bootable Linux CD (maybe with an installer?) that I could use to put a current OS on this, or test the hardware with, etc.

Is there a hotkey to make it boot from the CD drive, or is that a default setting? Any bios access key? Forgive my inexperience

All recommendations/info welcomed!

Bottom of unit says model A1010, fwiw.

Ok, after some quick googling, You have a 12" G4 PowerBook with an 8xx MHz processor.

I am fairly certain that Yellow Dog Linux will work on your system, but I am not sure if they integrate the installer onto the LiveCD like Ubuntu does (in that you can boot the LiveCD, get a feel for the system, and then run the installer inside the LiveOS instead of rebooting).

 

[gus6464]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Hi guys, first post in this section, thanks in advance for any input here. I have come across an older Mac Powerbook G4, a little one with maybe a 12/13" Screen or so, from 2002. When you try to boot it, it has a little swirly thing that sits there for about two minutes, then finally a box comes up that says 'You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button, etc'. Doing so, you get the same message.

What I'd like to know is if there is a bootable Linux CD (maybe with an installer?) that I could use to put a current OS on this, or test the hardware with, etc.

Is there a hotkey to make it boot from the CD drive, or is that a default setting? Any bios access key? Forgive my inexperience

All recommendations/info welcomed!

Bottom of unit says model A1010, fwiw.

Ok, after some quick googling, You have a 12" G4 PowerBook with an 8xx MHz processor.

I am fairly certain that Yellow Dog Linux will work on your system, but I am not sure if they integrate the installer onto the LiveCD like Ubuntu does (in that you can boot the LiveCD, get a feel for the system, and then run the installer inside the LiveOS instead of rebooting).

I totally forgot about yellow dog. Yeah this is actually your best bet as this distro was designed specifically for powerpc macs. It is based on red hat and uses yum as the package manager.

 

[Arkaign]

Awesome stuff guys! Which build of Yellow Dog should I get? How many discs is it total? Just boot off of the YellowDog CDs with the ctrl-c?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Awesome stuff guys! Which build of Yellow Dog should I get? How many discs is it total? Just boot off of the YellowDog CDs with the ctrl-c?

Grab the latest build of it if you can, and I have no idea how many discs it is though it should be availble as a DVD ISO. And yes, drop the disk into the system, restart, and then hold c after turning on the machine.

 

[gus6464]

Get yellow dog 4.0 - orion. It is a 4 disc download. Has the best compatibility with the last generation powerbook g4s. Especially when it comes to the broadcom wireless chip that is on the 12in g4. That is probably the thing I hated most about my old 1st gen pbook g4 12in.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: gus6464
Get yellow dog 4.0 - orion. It is a 4 disc download. Has the best compatibility with the last generation powerbook g4s. Especially when it comes to the broadcom wireless chip that is on the 12in g4. That is probably the thing I hated most about my old 1st gen pbook g4 12in.

Yea, that is better advice, I did some more poking around, and it looks like YDL 5.0 is optimized or built or whatever for the PS3. It will work on others, but grab version 4.0 since it will be an easier install

 

[Arkaign]

I'm installing 4.1 - Sagitta, is this okay? Is it missing anything from 4.0?