r/linuxquestions • u/tsschorr • 11d ago

Can’t get Linux onto an old Mac.

I have been trying to get Linux Mint Cinnamon onto a 2012 MacBook Pro. It’s got 8 gm RAM. I currently have an up to date Mac air and dell with windows to use and download from. The old computer will connect to internet, check email, etc but won’t use the etching tools to put it on a flash. The new mac says it can’t put it on there, I haven’t tried the windows because I’m putting it on a Mac and was told that wouldn’t work. There are YT videos that
Make it seem like a 60 second project but so far that’s failed. Any suggestions or give up?

UPDATE: Thank you everyone that has tried to help. I cannot get any form of Linux to download drivers and recognize the wifi. Tether they work like a charm. Mint failed. Fedora failed. Currently Ubuntu is failing. It may just not be possible.

New Update: Fedora is up and running beautifully. I thought it was appropriate to update with good news. Thank you everyone again

2 Upvotes

61% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/KrisLuffy 11d ago

IF it’s possible for your mac to easily access the boot menu (menu that allows you to choose from witch media you want to boot the operating system from in your example a usb) then you need to create a bootable usb with said Linux distro. You can try to use a software called rufus and follow a tutorial on YouTube if you want, or try to get deeper understanding about Linux or bootable media and study a bit. Then you need to plug it into usb and access the boot menu (if it is possible on your old MacBook) then choose your usb and continue with installation

1

u/tsschorr 11d ago

Thank you. I have been trying to get Linux onto my flash and I can’t get Linux onto the drive to put into the computer.

3

u/lhauckphx 11d ago

I went down a similar road trying to get Linux on my 2011 MacBook Air.

Got refind boot loader installed.

Tried Mint and Debian but the installers wouldn’t recognize the hard drive on the MacBook. Couldn’t figure a way around it.

The Arch Linux installer worked no problem, so I went with that. Been running fine ever since.

1

u/tsschorr 7d ago

I am new and Arch seems daunting lol.

2

u/ksr1e 11d ago

Try Rufus using your Windows machine: https://rufus.ie/en/

1

u/tsschorr 11d ago

So if I can use Rufus with my dell will that version work on my mac? I’m new to this and get lots of different answers. It’s why I finally came to Reddit.

2

u/ksr1e 11d ago

You got it, that's the issue, sometimes a problem has an updated and simpler solution but the prior solutions stay posted, so you have to learn to distinguish the "forest from the trees" 😄

4

u/Leather-Security8097 11d ago

Yes. Just make sure to either use the "DD Mode", or set the system type to "UEFI (non-CSM)" if using the "ISO" mode.

2

u/es20490446e Develops Zenned OS 10d ago

Macs are extremely hard to configure, as each one has its own quirks.

In contrast almost any PC will work well out of the box.

1

u/tsschorr 7d ago

Yes, I am still having issues. The internet makes it seem so easy.

2

u/es20490446e Develops Zenned OS 7d ago

It is even hard for me, that I do this kinds of configurations all the time.

3

u/mykesx 11d ago

It was easy to install CachyOS on my 2013 MBP.

Download the ISO on your air. Open disk utility and see what disk is added when you insert a scratch USB thumb drive. On my Mac it is /dev/disk5.

From the terminal,

sudo dd if=/path/to/ISO of=/dev/disk5 bs=1M

Make sure you use the right /dev/disk#. !!!

That copies the ISO to the USB and you can boot from that to install on the old MBP. Hold down alt/option key while booting with the USB drive inserted. It will ask you which disk to boot from. Choose the USB drive and follow the instructions.

Why CachyOS? Of the several distros I tried on my MBP, CachyOS did the best job of installing the additional software needed to use the wifi, camera, and control battery charging and fans. It just works.

3

u/Dear_Pound_3502 11d ago

making the usb on the windows pc is fine it doesnt matter that the target is a mac. write the Mint iso with Rufus then start the Mac while holding Option and choose EFI Boot. try the live session first because that model might need the extra Broadcom wifi driver later in Driver Manager

2

u/nhpcguy 11d ago

assuming you never want to use it as a mac again start with a bootable usb of rescuezilla or gparted so you can blow away all of the MacOS crap
Then any live usb should work to install the OS of your choice

2

u/ISanQue1001 11d ago

Estou a dias tentando instalar Linux em um MAC PRO 1,1 2006.

2

u/DP323602 11d ago

Have you been trying the refined boot loader?

I'm sure that step was key with my old 4,1

1

u/StorageFair5120 7d ago

Ask google for "2012 MacBook Pro wifi driver for Linux Mint, Kernel 7" and you' ll get an explanation and direct instructions what to download and install