Want to install MX onto a 2006 iMac 5.1 Core2Duo [SOLVED]

[m_pav]

These machines have a 64-bit CPU but are firmware restricted to a lowly 32-bit efi and I'm having some issues getting MX-Linux to bring up a full working desktop.

One thing I have discovered is our Wiki page https://mxlinux.org/wiki/system/boot-parameters/ with the MX Linux Boot Cheat codes either don't work for MX-18 & MX-19 Live, or are a little outdated because some of them simply do not work. Two such example are: nomodeset and noacpi.

Our MX-18 and MX-19 ISO's burnt to USB seem to successfully get past the 32-bit efi limitation, but I have not been able to get a working desktop. I have once only been able to get a console login prompt, so I think the challenge is related to the very old Radeon X1600 graphics and underlying AGP/PCI bus.

I stumbled across Matt Gadients site where he provides instructions and some downloadable ISO's he's modified to swap out the bootloader with a 32-bit version, but they don't make any difference whatsoever. Just for kicks, the url is https://mattgadient.com/linux-dvd-image ... 06-models/

Just putting this out there to see if anybody has had any success with such a machine and might be able to give me some clues.

Specs below taken from the OSX 10.6.8 installed system.

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Hardware Overview:

    Model Name:	iMac
    Model Identifier:	iMac5,1
    Processor Name:	Intel Core 2 Duo
    Processor Speed:	2.16 GHz
    Number Of Processors:	1
    Total Number Of Cores:	2
    L2 Cache:	4 MB
    Memory:	4 GB
    Bus Speed:	667 MHz


ATI Radeon X1600:

    Chipset Model:	ATY,RadeonX1600
    Type:	GPU
    Bus:	PCIe
    PCIe Lane Width:	x16
    VRAM (Total):	128 MB
    Vendor:	ATI (0x1002)
    Device ID:	0x71c5
    Revision ID:	0x0000
    Displays:
iMac:
    Resolution:	1680 x 1050
    Pixel Depth:	32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
    Main Display:	Yes


Intel ICH7-M AHCI:

    Vendor:	Intel
    Product:	ICH7-M AHCI
    Link Speed:	1.5 Gigabit
    Negotiated Link Speed:	1.5 Gigabit
    Description:	AHCI Version 1.10 Supported

[oldhoghead]

m_pav,
On Matt's site,
Did you scroll all the way down to the
Converting the ISO
I had a 2006 iMac and ran antiX by using that process

cheers,
ohh

[m_pav]

Did you scroll all the way down to the
Converting the ISO

Yep, that's why I said it didn't make any difference. I have a bunch of iso's and so far, none of them have worked, either in their standard form or tweaked and I have tried a few different distros, just really want to use MX if I can. I'm not averse to using AntiX, but it would be easier for regular operators who have never used Linux to work with a UI that is little bit more familiar.

I'm in VirtualBox preparing a new MX8.3 snapshot ISO with the antiX 4.9 kernel from MXPI. I'll have it built before too long, I'll burn it to USB and give it a whirl just as soon as I can. If it works, I'll repeat with MX19 cause that's my ultimate goal.

I think the modern kernels have removed critical elements for older systems like this one, so the 4.9 kernel might be my best bet yet.

[m_pav]

No dice with the 18.3 iso and the 4.9 kernel, same as before, the best it will do is halt at the "waiting for /dev to be fully populated..." It seems to load the graphics because the display font changes from massive to correct resolution for the display a micro second before it stops. :(

[esbeeb]

A long time ago, I too tried to install Linux, but on an old G3 Mac. Also an iMac. Never again, shall I try that futile, painful sort of thing. Macs bend over backwards to keep Linux off of them.

Even so much as installing Virtualbox in Mac OS is hard these days (to run a Linux VM); you'll need to reboot into a rescue mode, and type some very esoteric codes into a root terminal there, which enable the security permissions within the Mac OS kernel which Virtualbox silently fails to install properly without.

[oldhoghead]

m_pav

I don't know if it helps, but I could not get a usb drive to install on my old iMac, but used the cd-dvd drive to install, on reboot hold down the
c key to boot from the dvd, after install and then reboot you have to press the option key to choose what you want to boot from, your choices will include
windows, that is where you will find your install. It won't show up as Linux. Of course you probably already know this.
One cheat code that might help when /dev takes too long
after splash

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video=SVIDEO-1:d

[PhantomTramp]

Hello m_pav,

Have you had a look at this:

https://www.kali.org/docs/base-images/k ... ll-on-mac/

This worked for me on the last Intel Mac I encountered (Polycarbon MacBook, maybe 2009, Nvidia, but 32 bit EFI, me thinks) using MX 18.3. Could not use a USB drive to boot, only a DVD. I then upgraded this machine to 19 and SSD.

The Tramp

EDIT: Just re-read your post, I see you have the AGP Radeon. I have not had any experience with this model, Sorry.

[m_pav]

Thanks for your responses. I've spent a whack load of time on this one, but we're in lock down, so what is time? Actually, it makes no difference, my part time work is in essential services and I'm usually finished by 8am at this time of the year, so I have the rest of the day ahead of me

Thanks oldhoghead, I've been considering trying an install from optical media. Your response reminded me of when I had a computer service and repair shop. I recall very clearly how in 2010-ish, I had one of these in for a new HDD because it was totally dead. Try as I might, the only way I could install MAC OS was to do it via the optical drive, a Mac prepared USB boot disk from a near identical machine simply would not work.

Funny how I forgot that, must be getting old Found some unused blank Imation Forcefield DVD's I purchased some 7+ years ago. They'll do just fine for this test.

[m_pav]

Wow, booting from optical media got me past the stop-point and I'm looking at a full desktop. Next step is to really check all hardware is working, then try a frugal install and see how that goes, if it's possible to boot from USB or whether I'll need to do a full installation. After that, swap out the old spinning platter for a SSD, image it across and let it roar.

I'll mark the post as solved when I can confirm either a frugal or full installation.

Desktop up and running live
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RtXrN ... pl5vtAr0i2

inxi -Fxxxza (no r because it is too big to snapshot)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cnFuP ... SUaQJFUTqW

[woodsman]

i normally do not che ck into this section but saw your posts.

i will check tomorrow when i go out to the work building. I run an old white macbook that my daughter had laying around. useless as such so i burned an dvd iso of mx 19 32 bit and installed it.deb 10 would not install due to something like 860 some MB ram. believe it or not. i had deb9 on it. i was told by one of the devs here to try 32 bit. wireless works out there and i can get stuff to work but not too many windows and it is slow. but does load. terminal is working. it has a dvd player but not burner i guess - is that the old mac combo drive? been a while. not sure what year it is from but i was successful installing 32 bit mx19 and have updated everything to current state. did not try the wireless printer for no needs to in my old shed/workarea. lays intrenet streaming music and have files on it for needed farnm stuff and tractor/chainsaw info etc. libreoffice works =. did not hook up thunderbird accounts out there. will check some system info and get back to you tomorrow AM.