Question about a gorgeous 24-inch donated iMac

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Phil Shapiro

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Feb 27, 2023, 4:55:09 PM2/27/23
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Last week I picked up a gorgeous, 24-inch Core2Duo iMac.  I tried installing Linux, but without success. I now have Snow Leopard installed.

    I'd like the recipient family who gets this computer to be able to surf the web.  The thought comes to mind that I could maybe install an old version of VirtualBox -- and then install a current Linux to run under VirtualBox.  Has anyone tried something like that before?  Does this sound feasible -- or hair-brained?

                phil

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Charles M

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Feb 28, 2023, 7:55:16 AM2/28/23
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Phil I don't recall having issues installing Xubuntu 20.04 (from USB key) to a 24" Silver C2D iMac. The one we had is gone (went to a single parent of 2 children). What issues were you having?

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Phil Shapiro

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Feb 28, 2023, 9:56:25 AM2/28/23
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Charles, this is a white 24-inch C2D iMac.  It would not recognize my Linux USB flash drive when I booted holding
down the Option key.

From: "Charles" <chas...@gmail.com>
To: "Refurbishers Mailinglist" <refurb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2023 7:55:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Question about a gorgeous 24-inch donated iMac

Kent Tenney

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Mar 1, 2023, 10:41:17 AM3/1/23
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I was having trouble installing Linux on iMac, first boot
after install the display was blank.

The workaround is to connect a remote display, forcing
different video mode, then edit /etc/default/grub and add
'nomodeset' to the default command line:
change
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
to
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"
then run
sudo update-grub
now the iMac boots into Ubuntu

Maybe this will work for you.

Thanks,
Kent

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Phil Shapiro

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Mar 1, 2023, 11:53:36 AM3/1/23
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Thanks, Kent. That tip is so useful.

            phil


From: "Kent Tenney" <kte...@gmail.com>
To: "refurbishers" <refurb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2023 5:10:22 PM

Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Question about a gorgeous 24-inch donated iMac

Justo Munoz

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Mar 1, 2023, 11:51:37 PM3/1/23
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when we get the older thicker imacs, what we usually do , by request from certain customers, is actually install windows in the hardware, especially the silverback ones. the first black-backed core2duo ones could also run windows in them; so as far as using them for the repurposing of the hardware and not being able to afford a newer imac running something much more current (times are hard these days); if the persons receiving the machine are strictly mac OS persons, then the idea of windows is out the window. but if they want something that will get them online currently, there is the option of installing windows in that actual older core2. just an idea & a thought 😐

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/refurbishers/1022208743.32252056.1677689612848.JavaMail.zimbra%40his.com.

Phil Shapiro

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Mar 2, 2023, 2:06:20 PM3/2/23
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Justo, this is a very good idea that I had not considered. Thanks. If I added some memory to this older iMac, then
I could also run Linux under VirtualBox -- using both Windows 10 and Linux.

              phil


From: "Justo Munoz" <Junio...@loavesfishescomputers.org>
To: "refurbishers" <refurb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 11:51:23 PM

Andrew Dobbie

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Jul 7, 2024, 2:08:43 PM7/7/24
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Macs tend to work best with Xubuntu due to the pre-installed network driver packages.
Once installed, if wifi networks are not visible, then you may need to plug it into either a USB wifi stick or wired network to re-install the Broadcom wifi driver: 
This code will get you there👍
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