G4 MDD 1.42 and Ubuntu

[honeycombz]

Hi, I'm new to linux but would like to install ubuntu on my g4 mdd. I downloaded a live cd of 13.0.4 to try and test it out and got as far as booting from a cd i burned and seeing the loading screen but then I get a gazillion errors and am kind of out of my league making this happen. Wondering if someone could advise me what the best version for G4 PPC would be and the easiest method of installing it. Thanks.

 

[captainsmirk]

Are you dead-set on Ubuntu? The past few full versions have used what's called the "Unity" desktop, which is pretty demanding and will seriously slow down an older computer. Have you considered Debian (including MintPowerPC, which is lightweight and optimized for PowerPCs) or one of the lighter Ubuntu variants like Lubuntu or Xubuntu?

I've installed several Linux distros on a few different systems, and it never quite goes as you expect (or the same way twice!). If you're having problems at bootup, figure out how to set it to load in "verbose mode" and then google what happens when it begins to hang. Linux and installation has gotten a lot more friendly over the years, but Google is going to be a better friend early on.

 

[HansiS]

Hi!

I've tried the new Ubuntu Mate for PPC on my PB G4 and I was pretty impressed with Style and Speed. I'm a Linux beginner and there were some issues out of the box, but the most could be fixed thanks to Dan's Guide from PPCLuddite.

You might like it and it's based of 14.04. LTS.

Greetings

 

[honeycombz]

No i'm not set on ubuntu. Ubuntu Mate looks pretty cool. Maybe I will give that a shot. Lubuntu and xubuntu look neat too. How does one pick a flavor of linux?

 

[HansiS]

I tried the more ressource-friendly Desktop Environments. As far as I know, MATE and Cinnamon from the Mint-Developers is already less ressources consuming than Unity, Gnome 3.x and KDE.
Especially for old Hardware with little RAM, the more slim Environments like Xfce and LXDE might be the best solution. The difference between these two is roughly that Xfce provides most comfort while using the least possible ressources and that LXDE uses the least ressources while providing the most possible comfort. Sounds rather identical, but in short, Xfce is more comfortable and LXDE is faster.

When you install Debian or Ubuntu etc., you can change the Desktop Environment afterwards. So your choice is not fixed for eternity.

 

[honeycombz]

anyone else have trouble downloading adams ubuntu mate iso?

 

[HansiS]

Can't remember having those, sorry. But I just made an Image of my MATE-Disc and will upload it to my Dropbox and post a link for you.

 

[honeycombz]

thanks for the download. can i do a live boot from the disc to test or is this install only.

 

[HansiS]

My pleasure, hope it works. It's a Live CD - after booting when you're prompted, you have to type "live" and it will start.

When WLAN or Sound ain't working out of the box or the Fans are spinning full speed etc, this can be fixed later after installing - the aforementioned Guide on PPCLuddite was very helpful to me.

 

[honeycombz]

hey, booted up with live... the desktop wallpaper and menu bars are garbled looking... do i need to download some special drivers? seems to function fine other than that although how to i actually install it once i'm in live.

 

[lowendlinux]

hey, booted up with live... the desktop wallpaper and menu bars are garbled looking... do i need to download some special drivers? seems to function fine other than that although how to i actually install it once i'm in live.

I wouldn't install it until you know why your menu bars and wallpaper are garbled. Linux can use proprietary drivers but they are generally not installed by default. Your G4 is old enough to not need the binary the kernel driver should be running it just fine.

 

[MatthewLTL]

I have tried Even Ubuntu 14.04 on my eMac and MDD. Works fine just a bit slow. My laptop has LinuxMint 17.1 on it with the MATE desktop works great i love mate its quick its snappy and i used it on my 2006 era PC it was too slow for windows by MATE made it so i could watch 720p HD videos.

 

[Intell]

What GPU does your machine have in it?

 

[honeycombz]

The stock radeon 9000

 

[MatthewLTL]

Mine came with a GeForce 4MX i dont believe its the stock card though

 

[gsahli]

My MDD 867 came with a GeForce 4MX. I've upgraded to a FX 5200. The nouveau nVidia driver that comes with current linux flavors is the reason I haven't been able to run any newer distribution than Debian 6.0.10. (older, kernel 2.6.x linux had a working driver called nv)
There is no developer working on the nouveau driver that has an old PPC Mac - so the new distros don't give me X-windows.

Those of you who have a working linux with 3.x.x kernel, please tell us the rest of your system details!

 

[honeycombz]

ugh