Linux DVD images (and how-to) for 32-bit EFI Macs
My early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 has been sitting in a cupboard for a few years now,
and I wanted to bring it back to life.
At first I thought of doing a stand alone Windows install,
then I thought better of that when I found a site where a very smart cookie by the name of Matt Gadient
has Modified quite a lot of Linux Distro's for the 32-Bit EFI Intel Macs.
Please note that these are for Early 32-Bit EFI Intel Mac's ONLY and NOT for PowerPC Macs.
There are also some spec issues to look out for such as graphics card,
Minimum Ram requirements and so on
which are explained, However the install is quite easy.
Read the post's below the ISO Links to see what issues other folks have had with their installs
before you go ahead and choose a Distro for your install.
Here is a link to the Site for the Images
https://mattgadient.com/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/
Yes I know the link states "Late 2006 Models" however it runs very nicely on my Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1
I used
Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac) – 1.8 GB ISO
ubuntu-18.04-desktop-amd64-mac-mattgadient.com.iso ( md5: 666143a9ee7924455de734399b9af0f3 )
This is a Modified LTS Image (Long term Support = till 2023)
This is a LIVE Disc Image,
so it will boot into Live Ubuntu then pop up a small window asking if you want to
either RUN Live Ubuntu, OR Install Ubuntu.
They may all be live disc's but don't quote me on that,
as I have only tried the
"Ubuntu 17.10 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" and "Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" Distro's.
"Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" runs very nicely on my Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1,
even though it is installed on an HDD instead of an SSD drive.
My Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 Specs.
2 X 3.0Ghz Quad Core Xeon's (8 cores total).
Genuine Mac Edition 1 Gig Radeon HD 5770.
(Although flashed PC cards that support a boot screen on a Mac Pro 1,1 - 2,1 may also work).
(Again read the Posts to see which cards work best).
32Gig 667Mhz FB Ram.
1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM SATA HDD in bay 1.
Super-drive Optical drive.
Creating the Install DVD is simple, just save the ISO Image to your OS X desktop,
Insert a Blank 4.7 Gig DVD in your Optical drive,
Right click (or Control + left click) the ISO image on your desktop and select burn to disc,
set the burn rate at its lowest rate to get a reliable Burn and set it to verify the disc.
once the Disc Burn is completed OS X will say that it can't read the disc
(or some thing close to that), however you can just select ignore,
reboot and ether hold the "option" key to get the boot manager and select the DVD
(it will say its a Windows DVD, however, Again, you can ignore that and just select it),
or just hold the "C" key at boot to boot straight off the DVD.
you may also want to select the compatibility driver's install during the install.
Once installed you will most likely have to turn on your WiFi Card in the settings section,
so you can do the updates,
The Setting section can be found in the top right corner,
just click on the power icon and a drop down menu will appear.
Hope you have a successful install
.
My early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 has been sitting in a cupboard for a few years now,
and I wanted to bring it back to life.
At first I thought of doing a stand alone Windows install,
then I thought better of that when I found a site where a very smart cookie by the name of Matt Gadient
has Modified quite a lot of Linux Distro's for the 32-Bit EFI Intel Macs.
Please note that these are for Early 32-Bit EFI Intel Mac's ONLY and NOT for PowerPC Macs.
There are also some spec issues to look out for such as graphics card,
Minimum Ram requirements and so on
which are explained, However the install is quite easy.
Read the post's below the ISO Links to see what issues other folks have had with their installs
before you go ahead and choose a Distro for your install.
Here is a link to the Site for the Images
https://mattgadient.com/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/
Yes I know the link states "Late 2006 Models" however it runs very nicely on my Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1
I used
Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac) – 1.8 GB ISO
ubuntu-18.04-desktop-amd64-mac-mattgadient.com.iso ( md5: 666143a9ee7924455de734399b9af0f3 )
This is a Modified LTS Image (Long term Support = till 2023)
This is a LIVE Disc Image,
so it will boot into Live Ubuntu then pop up a small window asking if you want to
either RUN Live Ubuntu, OR Install Ubuntu.
They may all be live disc's but don't quote me on that,
as I have only tried the
"Ubuntu 17.10 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" and "Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" Distro's.
"Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop (64-bit Mac)" runs very nicely on my Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1,
even though it is installed on an HDD instead of an SSD drive.
My Early 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 Specs.
2 X 3.0Ghz Quad Core Xeon's (8 cores total).
Genuine Mac Edition 1 Gig Radeon HD 5770.
(Although flashed PC cards that support a boot screen on a Mac Pro 1,1 - 2,1 may also work).
(Again read the Posts to see which cards work best).
32Gig 667Mhz FB Ram.
1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM SATA HDD in bay 1.
Super-drive Optical drive.
Creating the Install DVD is simple, just save the ISO Image to your OS X desktop,
Insert a Blank 4.7 Gig DVD in your Optical drive,
Right click (or Control + left click) the ISO image on your desktop and select burn to disc,
set the burn rate at its lowest rate to get a reliable Burn and set it to verify the disc.
once the Disc Burn is completed OS X will say that it can't read the disc
(or some thing close to that), however you can just select ignore,
reboot and ether hold the "option" key to get the boot manager and select the DVD
(it will say its a Windows DVD, however, Again, you can ignore that and just select it),
or just hold the "C" key at boot to boot straight off the DVD.
you may also want to select the compatibility driver's install during the install.
Once installed you will most likely have to turn on your WiFi Card in the settings section,
so you can do the updates,
The Setting section can be found in the top right corner,
just click on the power icon and a drop down menu will appear.
Hope you have a successful install
.
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