OT: Mac OS X to Ubuntu question

[Patrick Moore]

I've got an old 2008/2009 Macbook with the latest OS X that I'd like to convert to Ubuntu. I want to get rid of all Mac files entirely, and use Ubuntu as the sole OS, and use only Ubuntu applications -- nothing Mac at all.

8 years ago, when I swapped Windows for Ubuntu, the process was very straightforward: IIRC, I just downloaded the Ubuntu installation files and clicked the right buttons, and it overwrote Windows with the Ubuntu suite of the time.

With this Mac, nothing I can do seems to work, and I've tried 3-4 times.

Can anyone give me idiot proof instructions about what to do?

This MB has DVD/CD and USB flash drive capacities, but if I can avoid having to buy a new, blank CD, I'd be happy.

Thanks, Patric

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[René Sterental]

Have you tried connecting it as an external HD to another Mac in order to complete erase it?

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[Garth]

Have you simply googled something like : 2008 macbook install ubuntu ?

I do not know much about computers either, I type à finger at a time, and I don't really understand computer terminal lingo very well, yet I install linux on all my windows based pc's as soon as I buy them without ever even starting windows. I can however read and comprehend directions !

Installing from a cd(now dvd) now seems archiac compared to the ease and speed of usb stick. Once installed on on a usb stick you can first try out the linux version live on any existing computer as it completely bypasses the installed os. This way you can see what works and what may not before actually installing it .

Point being, I do all this by web searching. I realized in regards to computers whatever the issue may be, someone has already experienced it and solved it and written about it. When google searching your keywords are everything, and putting a specific word in double quotes is sometimes necessary. So while I cannot help you specifically I can tell you wih Mac hardware it surely has already been done.

[Garth]

BTW, I run Linux Mint, it is Ubuntu based but more "user friendly" in many ways for most and the best "out of the box" hardware support. Is your Macbook a 4.1 ?   I found this video that may help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGjMsJJesbw

He is speaking of unetbootin for the bootable usb stick.

[Steve Palincsar]

Me too. Unlike Ubuntu, they haven't gone crazy with the user interface
trying to emulate tablets and cell phone apps.

[Peter White]

Have you tried Bootcamp? 

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[Patrick Moore]

Of course, but following the instructions I come up against "can't open this file" messages.

I do after all know about google, and ask here only because my efforts haven't succeeded.

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[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, I'll try this. The MB wouldn't let me use unetbootin the last time I tried.

On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 4:52 AM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

BTW, I run Linux Mint, it is Ubuntu based but more "user friendly" in many ways for most and the best "out of the box" hardware support. Is your Macbook a 4.1 ?   I found this video that may help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGjMsJJesbw

He is speaking of unetbootin for the bootable usb stick.

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[ted]

Have you got a root account set up, and are you doing this as root?

[Garth]

Try this : http://www.howtogeek.com/213396/how-to-boot-a-linux-live-usb-drive-on-your-mac/

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, all. Problem identified, if not solved.

 Garth: that link identified the problem. When I downloaded Ubuntu back circa 2006 onto a PC using Windows something or other, all it took was to click on the download button and follow the instructions; the process erased Windows and substituted Ubuntu. I expected to do the same with this old Macbook but, apparently, with Macs, damn Apple's eyes, it is hardly as straightforward.

Hopefully the video technique will help.

"Apple’s made it difficult to boot non-Mac OS X operating systems off of USB drives. While you can connect an external CD/DVD drive to your Mac and boot from standard Linux live CDs and USBs, simply connecting a Linux live USB drive created by standard tools like Universal USB Installer and uNetbootin to a Mac won’t work."

[Kevin Lindsey]

Boy, this is indeed off topic.

As an alternative, you might simply try installing "Parallels" for OSX.  It runs Ubuntu as a virtual machine while leaving OSX intact and still accessible.  I run it on my Mac Air and it works flawlessly.

Kevin