Cannot boot/install Ubuntu from thumb or DVD

[electronique]

Hi.

I having trouble booting to Ubuntu (and other Linux installs) from both a Thumb Drive install, and a USB Superdrive.

Note. My hardware is a 2011 MBP, with 120GB SSD and 500GB HDD - Note* Superdrive was replaced.

I understand that Macs have trouble booting from a USB DVD drive - hence the troubles. But I cannot for the life of me understand why none of my attempts at a Thumbdrive install fail.

I have installed ReFit and have partinioned free space on my system drive.

When I restart and the ReFit menu appears. I select either
Boot EFI\boot\bootx64.efi from or
Boot EFI\boot\grubx64.efi from

Both options take me through to a GNU Grub screen, where I have the option to -
Start Ubuntu
OEM Install or
Check disk for defects.

When I select Start Ubuntu, the screen goes blank. I have no power light on the MBP, however the thumb drive is lit.. But it just sits there forever, before I reset.

 

[alex0002]

I'm guessing this is a 15 inch macbook pro as per your sig and not a 13 inch.

With the 15 inch macbook pro, I've heard about problems booting linux when there is both Intel HD 3000 and AMD Radeon graphics and it tries to use the wrong one.

Does this help?
http://askubuntu.com/questions/1343...l-ubuntu-12-04-on-a-macbook-pro-so-that-it-bo

The "outb" additions to grub mentioned in that page, appear to disable the discrete video which should get you past the blank screen problem.

More here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFIBooting