So, I know there is a way to boot into a USB flash drive on the late 2005 iBook G4, which is what I have, but how can I create a bootable drive of Ubuntu 10.10 PPC on the machine, so I can perform a fresh install(I have no extra DVD-Rs)?
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Bootable USB drive on iBook G4
- Thread starter jrsx
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You do understand the PPC port of Ubuntu is community supported software right? It is in no way under Canonical, simply a bunch of very nice people recoding it. That being said, the only PowerPC I ever got to USB boot was a PowerMac G5 and that was an either it worked or not situation.
Altemose
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Yes, I knew that. Ubuntu really works on any PPC Machine, even low end G3 Clamshells. I wasn't asking about Ubuntu PPC at all. All I wanted to know how to create a USB stick on a PPC machine.
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-download the iso
-use UNetbootin to make bootable usb stick
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
-follow my post to book from usb stick
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1673606/
-use UNetbootin to make bootable usb stick
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
-follow my post to book from usb stick
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1673606/
your welcome...
ps: you might wanna try "lubuntu" version for the ppc...simple clean faster then unbuntu
here is alternate link (meaning doesn't load graphic interface on install...meaning faster)...also note the torrent and iso buttons are mixed up so if you just wanna download the iso asap click the Mac System/powerpc/torrent button......then just do as described above to make usb stick and boot and install....
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Alternate_ISO
ps: you might wanna try "lubuntu" version for the ppc...simple clean faster then unbuntu
here is alternate link (meaning doesn't load graphic interface on install...meaning faster)...also note the torrent and iso buttons are mixed up so if you just wanna download the iso asap click the Mac System/powerpc/torrent button......then just do as described above to make usb stick and boot and install....
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Alternate_ISO
I've never used unetbootin, but the link provided says the resulting USB flash drive will only boot a PC, not a Mac.
Still, maybe I've misunderstood the original post.
I always use dd to create a bootable (Mac) flash drive for Lubuntu. It works for 12.10, 13.04, 13.10 and 14.04. I don't know if it will work for Ubuntu 10.10, though. The link is here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/How to install Ubuntu on MacBook using USB Stick
Use the "Other Procedure" method at the bottom of the page. It's basically the same as the "Manual Approach" at the top of the page, but with one little change that speeds the whole process up greatly. On my MDD, it takes about 100 seconds to create the flash drive.
You can skip the part about changing the iso to a img first. I've never found it neccessary.
I use this method on an almost daily basis to test Lubuntu daily iso's. It works great. Just make sure to follow the directions closely so you don't accidently overwrite your hard drive. That would probably ruin your day.
And again, I don't know if this will work with the Ubuntu 10.10 iso.
Still, maybe I've misunderstood the original post.
I always use dd to create a bootable (Mac) flash drive for Lubuntu. It works for 12.10, 13.04, 13.10 and 14.04. I don't know if it will work for Ubuntu 10.10, though. The link is here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/How to install Ubuntu on MacBook using USB Stick
Use the "Other Procedure" method at the bottom of the page. It's basically the same as the "Manual Approach" at the top of the page, but with one little change that speeds the whole process up greatly. On my MDD, it takes about 100 seconds to create the flash drive.
You can skip the part about changing the iso to a img first. I've never found it neccessary.
I use this method on an almost daily basis to test Lubuntu daily iso's. It works great. Just make sure to follow the directions closely so you don't accidently overwrite your hard drive. That would probably ruin your day.
And again, I don't know if this will work with the Ubuntu 10.10 iso.
So I created a bootable USB drive in disk utility with the Ubuntu 10.04 PPC .iso file. Then I shut down and rebooted holding down command-option+O+F, and got into openfirmware. Then I tried to boot up from the USB drive by typing in "boot ud:,\\:tbxi", and it came up with a "X" across the screen. What did I do?
-plugged usb stick into left side and closest to front usb port.
-type this without the quotes "boot usb0/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi"
****EDIT**** archtopshop is correct ...making a linux boot stick with unetbootin won't boot a ppc....i just tried the minimal install....try his method for making ppc usb stick and then use the command ""boot usb0/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi" (without quotes)
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Not all versions of Lubuntu are bootable from a USB flash drive on PowerPC. I really don't know why. I was never able to boot Lubuntu 12.04 on my iBook, or MDD from a USB flash drive, but I've had no problems with newer versions--from 12.10 onward. I would stick to 13.10 though, because it's supported the longest, until April 2014.
I've never tried to USB boot any version of Ubuntu, so I don't know if creating a bootable usb version for PPC is even possible. Doesn't look like it is.
However, I can guarantee the method I pointed out in my earlier post will produce a bootable USB flash drive with the above Lubuntu versions because I use it nearly every day. Lubuntu 13.10 won't fit on a CD anymore, and I can make the flash drive faster than burning a DVD-RW.
If you need Ubuntu 10.10, I know this information is not helping you, but I just wanted to add it to clarify my earlier post.
No, its worth considering. My iBook is the mid-2005 one, and tons of people say its the only one (that and the 1.42 Ghz) that can boot off of USB... Maybe Ubuntu 10.04 just doesn't feel like booting off of my mac. I keep trying...
I have the same iBook (12" 1.33Ghz 1.5GB) and I just booted Lubuntu 13.10 using a 16GB Sandisk USB flash drive.
Here is a the open firmware command I used with the flash drive in the front usb port (the one closest to the little video port).
boot usb0/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
For the back usb port (next to the firewire port):
boot usb1/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
I don't know if this will boot Ubuntu, but it boots Lubuntu 13.10.
Hope it helps.
What is the best version of Lubuntu, Xubuntu, or other 'buntu' that works under this particular iBook? Something that keeps the processor and graphics card as cool as tiger or leopard might, but that runs relatively fast?
If you want to try Lubuntu on your iBook G4, then I would recommend the latest release, which is 13.10. You can find it here:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/releases/13.10/release/
Good luck.
Thanks! Got it. But I still can't figure out how to make a USB drive with it... I'm really getting frustrated and this thread hasn't really gone anywhere.
I noticed in an earlier post you mentioned creating the USB Flash drive in Disk Utility. That won't work.
You need to use the terminal.
I finally got the terminal to work but....
Results in order of pics below.
First, all seemed to work well. It put the .dmg file on the desktop while it was working.
Second, after it finished, the .dmg file disappeared, and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE.
Third, I began to finish the commands necessary just in case I actually WAS doing it right, I have no idea. Suddenly, as I typed in the dd command, it came up with this HUGE error message, hundreds of pages long, and my 'beep' noise on my computer kept going off. What did I do? I had to force quit terminal, and nothing seems to have happened to anything. I am totally lost.
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If you go back and read my earlier post, I said to skip trying to convert the iso to an img (dmg) file. That step is not needed and doesn't seem to work--as you have found out.
Go down to the bottom of the page to "other procedure" and start with line #3. This is all you need to do:
3. Run diskutil list and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g., /dev/disk2)
4. Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN (replace N with the disk number from the last command; in the previous example, N would be 2)
5. Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.img of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m (replace /path/to/downloaded.img with the path where the image file is located; for example, ./ubuntu.img or ./ubuntu.dmg).
Here it is, step -by-step:
Copy and paste the commands from the web page to the terminal window.
Copy and paste diskutil list and hit return. Note the number assigned to your flash drive.
Copy and paste diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN. Change the N to whatever number you found in the previous step. Hit return. Your flash drive will unmount and disappear from the desktop.
Next is the dd command, do it this way:
Copy and paste sudo dd if= into the terminal.
Then drag the Lubuntu iso image from the desktop onto the terminal window. It will paste the correct /path/to/downloaded.img for you, and even place the need space after.
Then copy and paste of=/dev/rdiskN into the terminal window. Change the N to whatever number your flash drive is assigned. (from step 3)
Then type a space after the number.
Copy and paste bs=1m and hit return.
You will be asked for your password. Enter it and hit return.
Then wait for your bootable flash drive to be created. It will take a few minutes. You'll know when it's done because it will reappear on your desktop and tell you in the terminal window.
That's it. Give it a try. You're almost there.
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Hey thanks that worked! It correctly created the USB, but when I boot up it still gives me and 'X' sign. These are the codes I have used:
boot usb0/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
boot usb1/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
boot usb0/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi
boot usb1/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi
boot ud:,\\:tbxi
for the first four it says it can't open the disk or file.
for the last one it gives me an X. Also when I type something like boot usb it gives me an X. When I type boot usb0 or boot usb1 it says something like size is too small or something random like that. Is my iBook just not capable of booting from USB? It's the right model...
boot usb0/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
boot usb1/disk@1:2,\\yaboot
boot usb0/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi
boot usb1/disk@1:3,\\:tbxi
boot ud:,\\:tbxi
for the first four it says it can't open the disk or file.
for the last one it gives me an X. Also when I type something like boot usb it gives me an X. When I type boot usb0 or boot usb1 it says something like size is too small or something random like that. Is my iBook just not capable of booting from USB? It's the right model...
Ok, so if you created the usb flash drive correctly, then either of the first two commands will work. At least, they work on my mid-2005, 12" iBook G4, 1.33GHz, 1.5GB Ram, 40GB drive model. I just tested both ports and they booted the flash drive correctly. I tried the last three commands you have listed above and they do not work.
Make sure you start the laptop in open firmware. command-option-O-F
On my iBook, the usb port closest to the front of the keyboard is usb0, so I use would use boot usb0/disk@1:2,\\yaboot if the usb flash drive is that port.
Likewise, the port closer to the firewire port is usb1 on my iBook, so I would use boot usb1/disk@1:2,\\yaboot for that port.
If you've already tried that, and it doesn't work for you, then maybe your ports are reversed. So, try putting the flash drive in the front port and using boot usb1/disk@1:2,\\yaboot, and vice versa for the back port.
If that doesn't work, then I'm sorry but I'm out of ideas.
So I figured I would just go with DVDs, so what are some good Linux options besides Lubuntu 13.10 PPC that you might suggest I try? I'm going to try several flavors, I think. What would you suggest? Thanks for all you help so far!
