Install Ubuntu on Macbook Pro - need help

[agibby5]

I am not sure if this should be in the Apple or Linux forum, but my main goal is to install and run Ubuntu only on an SSD in my "new" (used) Macbook. I bought this from a user here on this forum. It came with a fresh install of Mac OSX. I want to remove the HD and leave it intact in case I sell the Macbook. I have an SSD that I'd like to install. It has Ubuntu already installed on some ext partitions. It's been in two other laptops and luckily I haven't had to reinstall Ubuntu when I moved it. I don't expect that will be the case when I install the new drive in my Macbook.

I can't boot from an external disk where I have my Ubuntu installers. I found rEFit but I can't seem to boot from the CD I burned of it. I was thinking if I could boot and install rEFit on my SSD, I could then boot from my external drive with my Ubuntu installers (loaded with Grub) and install to the SSD. I also can't seem to boot off of any Ubuntu installer burns I've made to my rewritable media. Not sure what's going on with this machine.

Am I on the right track at all? I'm not finding the same level of ease as with my PC laptops, but I realize that I'm in a completely different environment with the Macbook. Thanks in advance!

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I found rEFit but I can't seem to boot from the CD I burned of it. I was thinking if I could boot and install rEFit on my SSD, I could then boot from my external drive with my Ubuntu installers (loaded with Grub) and install to the SSD. I also can't seem to boot off of any Ubuntu installer burns I've made to my rewritable media. Not sure what's going on with this machine.

I'm not familiar with Macs, but I figured the option to boot from CD needed to be enabled:

Press C during startup

Start up from a bootable CD or DVD, such as the Mac OS X Install disc that came with the computer.

 

[agibby5]

I'm not familiar with Macs, but I figured the option to boot from CD needed to be enabled:

I've tried that. It sounds like it reads the disk and then it spits it out. I burned a few disks of the same thing. No luck.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I've tried that. It sounds like it reads the disk and then it spits it out. I burned a few disks of the same thing. No luck.

Can you read the data from the disk while booted into any OS, or will it boot any other computer? It kinda sounds like you aren't burning the iso correctly.

 

[agibby5]

Can you read the data from the disk while booted into any OS, or will it boot any other computer? It kinda sounds like you aren't burning the iso correctly.

Yes. I can read the data from the disk with booted into another OS on another PC. I am also able to boot from PC disk on another PC.

I installed OSX on my SSD. I installed rEFIt. I only get the option to boot from the OSX install. I also tried booting from my multipass USB disk, but no go on that either. I also tried creating a Ubuntu usb stick with Unetbootin, and that didn't work either.

 

[agibby5]

I began thinking it was the CD. So I reburned another at 1x. I tried a few burned DVDs too. I then went and dug out an old Ubuntu CD when they used to mail them out for free. It showed up in the option boot menu and I chose it, but the computer just sat there. I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with this Macbook or if this is just how Macs are???

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I know there are a few linux devs that love Mac laptops, so I'm sure it will boot. Try booting from a USB drive?

BTW, is this an older laptop that doesn't support 64-bit, and are you attempting to boot 64-bit Ubuntu?

 

[Nothinman]

I installed Debian on a MacPro here at work without any issues. It was a while ago, but I think I just installed rEFIt and then Debian like normal.